California Electricity Rates (2026)
32.5¢/kWhstate average
88.1% above national averageUtilities in California
Rate Outlook for California
California's average residential electricity rate is currently 32.5 cents/kWh. Under EIA's reference scenario, rates are projected to reach 38.4 cents/kWh by 2031 and 43.7 cents/kWh by 2036, a 34.3% change. Under the high oil price scenario, rates could reach 45.6 cents/kWh.
EIA projections for California vs. actual observed rates
Projected residential electricity rates for California (next 10 years)
| Year | Reference (¢/kWh) | High Price | Low Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36.0 | 36.4 | 35.8 |
| 2027 | 34.7 | 35.2 | 34.7 |
| 2028 | 35.2 | 35.6 | 35.4 |
| 2029 | 36.2 | 36.5 | 36.4 |
| 2030 | 37.1 | 37.6 | 37.5 |
| 2031 | 38.4 | 39.1 | 39.0 |
| 2032 | 39.6 | 40.6 | 40.0 |
| 2033 | 41.2 | 42.3 | 41.4 |
| 2034 | 42.3 | 43.4 | 42.3 |
| 2035 | 43.2 | 44.5 | 43.0 |
| 2036 | 43.7 | 45.6 | 43.7 |
Data Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration — Annual Energy Outlook (AEO2010, AEO2015, AEO2020, AEO2025) and Monthly Energy Review.
Methodology: State-level projections are derived by applying national rate trends from EIA's Annual Energy Outlook to California's current observed rate. EIA does not publish state-level projections.
Freshness: This data is checked weekly against EIA's open data APIs. The Monthly Energy Review updates monthly with observed rates. The Annual Energy Outlook publishes new projections annually.