California electricity prices, August 2026
- Month
- August 2026, preliminary
- File
- Form EIA-861M
- Price among 51
- 4th from the highest
The average residential price in California was 29.75 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in August 2026. Preliminary
In August 2025, the price was 30.92 cents per kWh. The August 2026 price was 1.17 cents per kWh lower than the August 2025 price.
The US average was 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026. In August 2026, California had the 4th highest average residential price among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
By residential customers, California was 1st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in August 2026. From August 2025 to August 2026, the residential price fell 3.8% in California and rose 3.4% in the US. Of three sectors, the industrial price differs most from the US price: 24.12 against 9.64 cents per kWh.
The average bill of a residential customer for the month was $234.85, for 789 kWh. A bill for one month changes with the season.
EIA marks this month as preliminary. EIA adjusts the months of a year when the final Form EIA-861 data for the year are ready.
Average price of electricity to ultimate consumers represents the cost per unit of electricity sold and is calculated by dividing electric revenue from ultimate consumers by the corresponding sales of electricity.
The average price of electricity to ultimate consumers reported in this publication by sector represents a weighted average of consumer revenue and sales, and does not equal the per kWh rate charged by the electric power industry participant to the individual consumers.
EIA's words. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Technical notes, section "Form EIA-861" (March 2024). "This publication" is the Electric Power Monthly.
In plain words: the average price is revenue divided by sales. It is not the rate on a rate schedule. The figures on this page are EIA's own state averages. Monthly data through .
Average price by sector
Cents per kWh
| Sector | Aug 2026 cents per kWh | Aug 2025 cents per kWh | Change percent | US, Aug 2026 cents per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 29.75 | 30.92 | -3.8% | 18.16 |
| Commercial | 30.02 | 29.24 | +2.7% | 14.47 |
| Industrial | 24.12 | 23.84 | +1.2% | 9.64 |
| All sectors | 29.02 | 28.88 | +0.5% | 14.87 |
Sales, customers and bill
Residential, unless the row says all sectors
| Figure | Aug 2026 | Aug 2025 | Change percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential sales | 11.2 TWh | 9 TWh | +23.5% |
| Sales, all sectors | 26.7 TWh | 24.4 TWh | +9.6% |
| Residential customers | 14,138,808 | 14,362,473 | -1.6% |
| Average residential bill (dollars in the month) | $234.85 | $194.59 | +20.7% |
| Average residential use (kWh in the month) | 789 | 629 | +25.4% |
| US residential price (cents per kWh) | 18.16 | 17.57 | +3.4% |
The 25 months to August 2026
Form EIA-861M
California, residentialUS, residential
Where the figures come from
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861M sales and revenue workbook (state by sector and month). EIA status of this month: preliminary. The series runs through August 2026. The average price is revenue divided by sales. The average bill is residential revenue divided by residential customers. The annual figures of each utility are on the California page.
Questions about August 2026 in California
- What did businesses pay for electricity in California in August 2026?
- The average commercial price was 30.02 cents per kWh. The average industrial price was 24.12 cents per kWh. The average for all sectors was 29.02 cents per kWh.
- How much electricity did residential customers in California buy in August 2026?
- Residential customers bought 11.2 TWh of electricity in August 2026. One TWh is 1,000,000,000 kWh. The quantity was 23.5% higher than the quantity in August 2025.
- How many residential customers did California have in August 2026?
- California had 14,138,808 residential customers in August 2026. The number was 1.6% lower than the number in August 2025. A customer is one account or one meter, not one person.