California electric rates and bill calculators
In November 2026, 1,000 kWh costs from $165.32 on SMUD to $504.80 on SDG&E (5 utilities with a complete bill), before sales tax. That is 16.5¢ to 50.5¢ per kWh with all the charges of the tariff. Select your utility to calculate your own bill. Each calculator uses the tariff of the utility. The California Public Utilities Commission approves the tariffs of the investor-owned utilities. A city or public power utility gets its prices approved by its own board.
- 5 utilities
- Average bill in 2025: $154.73 a month
- Rates checked November 2, 2026
- 6 rate changes in the last 12 months
Utilities and rate schedules in California
What 1,000 kWh costs in California (November 2026)
The same bill on the tariff of each utility: 1,000 kWh in a 30-day November billing period, before sales tax. The most expensive utility is first. Compare all 92 utilities.
| Utility | 1,000 kWh | Per kWh | Change from October |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDG&ESchedule TOU-DR1 · winter rates · 20% on-peak and 30% super off-peak · Climate zone: Coastal · Baseline allowance: Basic | $504.80 | 50.48¢ | +$35.88 (+7.7%) |
| PG&ESchedule E-1 · winter rates · Baseline territory: Territory X · Heat code: B – Basic | $407.13 | 40.71¢ | $0.00 |
| Southern California EdisonSchedule TOU-D-4-9PM · winter rates · 15% on-peak and 5% mid-peak and 30% super off-peak · Baseline region: Region 9 · Baseline allocation: Basic | $365.19 | 36.52¢ | $0.00 |
| LADWPSchedule R-1A · low season rates · Zone 1, monthly bill · Tier 1 ($2.30 a month) | $313.31 | 31.33¢ | $0.00 |
| SMUDSchedule R-TOD · non-summer rates · 20% peak and 30% mid-peak | $165.32 | 16.53¢ | $0.00 |
Rate increase requests: PG&E (A.25-05-009), SDG&E (A.26-06-015). See pending rate increases.
See all California electric utilities with their average bills, including the ones without a calculator on this site yet.
Help paying the bill: LADWP bill help, PG&E bill help, SDG&E bill help, SMUD bill help, Southern California Edison bill help.
Cities: electricity in Fresno, electricity in Los Angeles, electricity in Sacramento, electricity in San Diego, electricity in San Francisco, electricity in San Jose, electricity in Alameda, electricity in Anaheim, electricity in Azusa, electricity in Bakersfield, electricity in Burbank, electricity in Chico, electricity in Chula Vista, electricity in Clovis, electricity in Colton, electricity in Concord, electricity in Corona, electricity in Davis, electricity in Elk Grove, electricity in Eureka, electricity in Glendale, electricity in Hanford, electricity in Hollister, electricity in Lodi, electricity in Long Beach, electricity in Madera, electricity in Merced, electricity in Modesto, electricity in Moreno Valley, electricity in Napa, electricity in Oakland, electricity in Oxnard, electricity in Palo Alto, electricity in Pasadena, electricity in Redding, electricity in Riverside, electricity in Roseville, electricity in Salinas, electricity in San Bernardino, electricity in San Luis Obispo, electricity in San Mateo, electricity in San Rafael, electricity in Santa Clara, electricity in Santa Cruz, electricity in Santa Maria, electricity in Santa Rosa, electricity in Stockton, electricity in Sunnyvale, electricity in Vallejo, electricity in Visalia, electricity in Yuba City.
Average electric bill in California
In 2025, the average home in California used 494 kWh a month and paid $154.73 a month (31.4¢ per kWh). The U.S. average was $150.68 (874 kWh, 17.2¢ per kWh). These are yearly averages from the EIA-861 data of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. See the average electric bill in California by utility and by month, the average bill in each state, the average bill of an apartment, business electricity rates in California and natural gas bills in California. To turn watts or kWh into dollars at the California price, use the electricity cost calculator. Solar net metering: PG&E.
| Utility | Homes | kWh a month | Price per kWh | Average bill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG&E | 1,738,444 | 464 | 37.5¢ | $173.95 |
| SDG&E | 284,416 | 367 | 45.8¢ | $167.87 |
| Southern California Edison | 3,262,177 | 474 | 31.5¢ | $149.07 |
| SMUD | 601,275 | 663 | 18.9¢ | $125.42 |
| LADWP | 1,415,602 | 469 | 26.5¢ | $124.20 |
The average bill is different from the 1,000 kWh bill above: it uses the real average kWh of each utility's homes and the rates of 2025.
The same bill in each month of the year
1,000 kWh in a 30-day billing period, calculated for each month with the rates in the tariff for that month. Only the rates change, not the kWh, so the difference comes from seasonal rates and monthly charges. The largest difference is first.
| Utility | Lowest month | Highest month | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMUDSchedule R-TOD | $165.32January | $243.97June | $78.65 |
| SDG&ESchedule TOU-DR1 | $468.92June | $504.80January | $35.88 |
| LADWPSchedule R-1A | $284.01April | $313.31October | $29.30 |
| Southern California EdisonSchedule TOU-D-4-9PM | $365.19January | $368.03June | $2.84 |
| PG&ESchedule E-1 | $406.89June | $407.13January | $0.24 |
Rate changes in California
In the last 12 months, we recorded 6 rate changes in the California tariffs on this site: 6 increases and 0 decreases. Each value is from the official document in the source link. To see what one change does to your bill, use the rate change tool. Rate increase history: PG&E, SDG&E, Southern California Edison.
| Date | Utility | Charge | Old | New | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | System Infrastructure Fixed Charge | $27.00 per month | $27.80 per month | Source |
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer peak electricity usage charge | 37.65¢ per kWh | 38.78¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer mid-peak electricity usage charge | 21.39¢ per kWh | 22.03¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer off-peak electricity usage charge | 15.5¢ per kWh | 15.96¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Non-summer peak electricity usage charge | 17.76¢ per kWh | 18.29¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2027Starts later | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Non-summer off-peak electricity usage charge | 12.85¢ per kWh | 13.24¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | System Infrastructure Fixed Charge | $26.20 per month | $27.00 per month | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer peak electricity usage charge | 36.55¢ per kWh | 37.65¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer mid-peak electricity usage charge | 20.77¢ per kWh | 21.39¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Summer off-peak electricity usage charge | 15.05¢ per kWh | 15.5¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Non-summer peak electricity usage charge | 17.24¢ per kWh | 17.76¢ per kWh | Source |
| January 1, 2026 | SMUDSchedule R-TOD | Non-summer off-peak electricity usage charge | 12.48¢ per kWh | 12.85¢ per kWh | Source |
Pages for each California utility
| Utility | Pages |
|---|---|
| LADWP | Rates and bill calculator |
| PG&E | Rates and bill calculator · Compare 5 plans · Rate history since 2022 |
| SDG&E | Rates and bill calculator · Compare 6 plans · Rate history since 2022 |
| SMUD | Rates and bill calculator |
| Southern California Edison | Rates and bill calculator · Compare 3 plans · Rate history since 2022 |
How electricity prices work in California
- Your address decides your utility. The tariff of that utility gives the price of each kWh and the monthly charges. In California, the tariffs are approved by different bodies: see the questions below.
- Tiers. LADWP and PG&E charge a different price for the kWh above a limit, so a month with more kWh has a different average price.
- Time of use. Plans on this site with prices that change with the hour: PG&E E-ELEC, PG&E E-TOU-C, PG&E E-TOU-D, PG&E EV2-A, Southern California Edison TOU-D-4-9PM, Southern California Edison TOU-D-5-8PM, SDG&E EV-TOU-2, SDG&E EV-TOU-5, SDG&E TOU-DR1, SDG&E TOU-DR2, SDG&E TOU-ELEC, SMUD R-TOD. Where a utility has more than one plan, its plan comparison page shows which plan costs less at each usage.
- Not in the calculations. Sales tax, city fees and discount programs are not in the tables on this page. The calculator of each utility shows them where the tariff gives them.
What is the average electric bill in California?
In 2025, the average home in California used 494 kWh a month and paid $154.73 a month, 31.4¢ per kWh, from the EIA-861 data of the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The U.S. average was $150.68 (874 kWh, 17.2¢ per kWh). Your own bill depends on your utility and your kWh.
How much is a 1,000 kWh electric bill in California?
In November 2026, 1,000 kWh costs from $165.32 on SMUD to $504.80 on SDG&E (5 utilities with a complete bill), before sales tax. That is 16.5¢ to 50.5¢ per kWh with all the charges of the tariff. The bill is for a 30-day billing period at the standard residential rate of each utility.
Which California utility has the lowest electric rates?
Of the 5 utilities in the table, SMUD has the lowest bill for 1,000 kWh in November 2026 ($165.32). You cannot select your utility: it is the utility that serves your address. The order can change with the season and with your kWh.
Are electric rates going up in California?
In the last 12 months, we recorded 6 rate changes for the California tariffs on this site: 6 increases and 0 decreases. The most recent: SMUD changed the System Infrastructure Fixed Charge on January 1, 2026. 6 published changes start later.
Why is my electric bill higher in some months in California?
Many tariffs have seasonal rates or charges that change each month. With the same 1,000 kWh, the SMUD bill is $243.97 in June and $165.32 in January. Homes also use more kWh for heating and cooling, which adds to the bill. The table of each month on this page shows the difference for each utility.
Who sets electric rates in California?
The California Public Utilities Commission approves the rates of PG&E, SDG&E and Southern California Edison. The Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners and City Council approve the rates of LADWP. The SMUD Board of Directors approves the rates of SMUD. Each calculator on this site uses the approved tariff of the utility.
This list shows only the utilities with checked tariffs. Some homes in California get electricity from an electric cooperative or a city utility. We do not have these tariffs yet. Send the name of your utility to contactus@utilityratecalc.com.
Do you want solar panels or an electric vehicle? The California NEM 3.0 solar and battery calculator and the EV charging from solar calculator on ProSolarCalc estimate the savings and the payback. Also read what changed in the federal solar tax credit in 2026. Sri Murugan Systems also makes ProSolarCalc.
No account needed: California rate changes (RSS feed) · all rate changes (RSS feed) · a monthly reminder for your calendar · save your bills in this browser. Each month, the bill comparison shows what 1,000 kWh costs at every utility.
State regulator: California Public Utilities Commission.