How much have California electric rates gone up?

California's average home electricity price almost doubled in ten years, from 16.99 cents per kWh in 2015 to 32.54 cents in 2025, according to the EIA. In June 2026, California homes paid 34.74 cents per kWh, almost twice the US average of 18.34 cents.

1. How much have rates gone up?

The average price California homes pay for power almost doubled in ten years: 16.99 cents per kWh in 2015, 32.54 cents in 2025. Go back to 2005 and it was 12.51 cents, so today's average is about 2.6 times that.¹

2. How does California compare with the rest of the country?

In June 2026, California homes paid 34.74 cents per kWh. The US average was 18.34 cents, so California paid almost twice as much for each unit of power.²

The July 2026 numbers tell the same story. California averaged 33.61 cents per kWh, Missouri 16.09, Kansas 15.27 and the US 18.31. Homes in Missouri and Kansas paid less than half California's price per kWh. Bills also depend on how much power a home uses, so those are prices, not bills.²

3. Did rates rise faster than inflation?

Yes. California's Legislative Analyst's Office found that residential rates rose about 47% from 2019 to 2023, while overall inflation rose about 18% over the same years.³

4. What is the new fixed monthly charge?

The CPUC set a fixed monthly charge of $24.15 for most homes. Homes in the FERA program pay $12.08 and homes in the CARE program pay $6.00. It is billed no matter how much power your panels make.⁴

5. Where do I find my own rate?

Your bill shows your rate plan and what you pay per kWh. The numbers above are statewide averages. Yours depends on your utility, your plan and the hours you use the most power.