State average · reviewed October 14, 2026
Why are California electric bills so high?
In July 2026 the average residential price in California was 33.61¢ per kWh, compared with 32.66¢ in July 2025 (+2.9%). The 2025 average monthly bill was $154.73 for 494 kWh. A single household can sit far from those averages because of usage, a rider, or a different utility.
EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A · Reviewed October 14, 2026
EIA-861 2025 average bill · Reviewed October 14, 2026
- July 2026
- 33.61¢
- +2.9% vs July 2025
- 2025 average bill
- $154.73
- 494 kWh a month
- 2025 average price
- 31.35¢
- 14,371,581 residential customers
Full service and delivery
Among distribution utilities in this extract, delivery-only residential customers were 40.7% of bundled plus delivery customers. A high share means many households buy energy from someone else. A low share means most reported customers are still full service. This is not a legal map of retail choice. Needs verification for a specific address.
Calculated from EIA-861 2025 residential customer counts · Reviewed October 14, 2026
Utilities
| Utility | Customers | Average shown | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG&E | 5,055,556 | Delivery only | 24.60¢ |
| Southern California Edison | 4,627,247 | Full service | 31.48¢ |
| PacifiCorp | 1,867,246 | Full service | 14.42¢ |
| LADWP | 1,415,602 | Full service | 26.48¢ |
| SDG&E | 1,378,465 | Delivery only | 27.33¢ |
| San Diego Community Power | 851,153 | Community choice supply | 15.76¢ |
| Clean Power Alliance of Southern Califor | 752,163 | Community choice supply | 13.95¢ |
| Ava Community Energy | 657,327 | Community choice supply | 14.48¢ |
| SMUD | 601,275 | Full service | 18.93¢ |
| Marin Clean Energy | 533,896 | Community choice supply | 15.00¢ |
| Central Coast Community Energy | 429,482 | Community choice supply | 14.75¢ |
| CleanPowerSF | 358,382 | Community choice supply | 15.16¢ |
| San Jose Clean Energy | 326,574 | Community choice supply | 13.96¢ |
| WestLight Energy | 285,476 | Community choice supply | 12.43¢ |
| Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority | 253,277 | Community choice supply | 13.30¢ |
| Clean Energy Alliance | 218,258 | Community choice supply | 18.29¢ |
| Sonoma Clean Power Authority | 202,434 | Community choice supply | 12.36¢ |
| Orange County Power Authority | 155,559 | Community choice supply | 12.92¢ |
| Pioneer Community Energy | 145,198 | Community choice supply | 13.88¢ |
| Imperial Irrigation District | 142,916 | Full service | 18.69¢ |
| City of Anaheim | 107,148 | Full service | 19.37¢ |
| Modesto Irrigation District | 104,671 | Full service | 23.03¢ |
| City of Riverside | 101,042 | Full service | 21.94¢ |
| Turlock Irrigation District | 80,976 | Full service | 17.40¢ |
| City of Glendale | 78,071 | Full service | 35.51¢ |
| City of Roseville | 64,556 | Full service | 21.29¢ |
| City of Pasadena | 58,602 | Full service | 25.11¢ |
| Valley Clean Energy Alliance | 54,345 | Community choice supply | 13.94¢ |
| City of Santa Clara | 54,000 | Full service | 17.88¢ |
| Redwood Coast Energy Authority | 51,383 | Community choice supply | 13.83¢ |
| Lancaster Choice Energy | 47,159 | Community choice supply | 16.38¢ |
| City of Burbank Water and Power | 46,719 | Full service | 21.50¢ |
| Liberty Utilities | 44,507 | Full service | 27.65¢ |
| Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice | 40,579 | Community choice supply | 16.85¢ |
| City of Redding | 39,152 | Full service | 18.97¢ |
| Pomona Choice Energy (PCE) | 37,045 | Community choice supply | 16.29¢ |
| Alameda Municipal Power | 32,364 | Full service | 24.01¢ |
| Santa Barbara Clean Energy | 32,190 | Community choice supply | 15.35¢ |
| Desert Community Energy | 27,896 | Community choice supply | 18.07¢ |
| City of Palo Alto | 25,672 | Full service | 21.36¢ |
Showing the 40 largest. The rest are linked from the utilities directory.
No residential customers in the 2025 extract
These 32 EIA respondents touch California and reported no residential sales in the files used here. Their profiles stay online so an old link does not 404, and they are left out of the sitemap so they are not indexed as thin pages.
- Aha Macav Power Service · Political Subdivision
- Anza Electric Coop Inc · Cooperative
- Bonneville Power Administration · Federal
- City of Banning - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Biggs - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Cerritos - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Escondido - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Gridley - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Healdsburg - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Industry - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Lompoc - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Needles - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Ukiah - (CA) · Municipal
- City of Victorville - (CA) · Municipal
- Colorado River Indian Irr Proj · Federal
- DOD USMC Marine Air Ground Combat · Federal
- Kings River Conservation Dist · Political Subdivision
- Kirkwood Meadows PUD · Political Subdivision
- Lassen Municipal Utility District · Municipal
- Lathrop Irrigation District · Political Subdivision
- Pittsburg Power Company · Municipal
- Placer County Water Agency - (CA) · Political Subdivision
- Plumas-Sierra Rural Elec Coop · Cooperative
- Port of Oakland · Municipal
- Port of Stockton - (CA) · Municipal
- Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility · Municipal
- Shelter Cove Resort Improvement Dist No. 1 · Political Subdivision
- Trinity Public Utilities Dist · Political Subdivision
- Truckee Donner P U D · Political Subdivision
- Tuolumne County Pub Power Agny · Political Subdivision
- WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration · Federal
- Yuba County Water Agency - (CA) · Political Subdivision
A bill at the July 2026 state average
| Monthly use | At 33.61¢/kWh |
|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $168.05 |
| 750 kWh | $252.08 |
| 1,000 kWh | $336.10 |
| 1,500 kWh | $504.15 |
| 2,000 kWh | $672.20 |
This uses the statewide average, not your utility's tariff. Fixed charges make low-use bills diverge. Needs verification against the bill.
Regulator and assistance
The CPUC sets rates for the large investor-owned utilities. Municipal utilities such as LADWP and SMUD are governed locally. Community choice aggregators bill energy on top of utility delivery. Which one applies to an address needs verification.
California Public Utilities Commission
LIHEAP contacts for California are on the federal list. A utility's own discount needs verification.
Questions
Why are California electric bills so high?
In July 2026 the average residential price in California was 33.61¢ per kWh, compared with 32.66¢ in July 2025 (+2.9%). The 2025 average monthly bill was $154.73 for 494 kWh. A single household can sit far from those averages because of usage, a rider, or a different utility.
Who regulates electric rates in California?
California Public Utilities Commission publishes orders and pending dockets. The CPUC sets rates for the large investor-owned utilities. Municipal utilities such as LADWP and SMUD are governed locally. Community choice aggregators bill energy on top of utility delivery. Which one applies to an address needs verification.
What help is available in California?
LIHEAP is the federal bill-assistance program. State contacts are listed by HHS. Utility discounts need verification.