What Is The Average Electric Bill in California in 2024?

California is a great place to relocate and live for many reasons: job opportunities, climate, outdoor beauty, nightlife, etc. However, an average electric bill in California might force people to move or change their decision to relocate. At $186 per month, it’s ranked as the third highest in the US.

Jackery Solar Generators, with their high battery capacity and portable design, can be a saving grace. The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro, Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, and Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro are popular models for powering appliances and cutting electricity bills.   

What Is The Average Electric Bill in California?

Californians' electric bills are among the highest in the country. Heading into 2024, the average electricity price in the state is 29.49 cents per kWh, which is almost double the nation’s average. This equates to an average monthly electric bill of $186, compared to the nation’s average, which stands at $144, around 29% less.  

Your bill, however, might vary depending on your electric utility, your dwelling type, where you stay, and the amount and type of energy you use. For example, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) customers pay higher rates per kWh than any other providers in the state.

Also, people staying in a single-bedroom house consume more energy than those living in apartments. That makes sense, given there’s more area to cool and/or heat, which ultimately adds to most of your electric consumption. While apartments with shared ceilings, walls, & floors use around 5000 kWh/year, almost half of a single-home family.  

Here’s a table showcasing how your bill varies from provider to provider and house type.

Source: CPUC

Please note, that the average electricity bill for each dwelling is derived by multiplying the average area of each by the respective rates per kWh of each utility.

Based on an average energy cost of 29.49 cents per kWh in January 2024, large homes with 3000 or more square feet area pay $321 per month as an average electric bill in California, which is more than double to $138 per month, the homes with 1000 square feet pay. The numbers are around $233 & $262 per month for a 1500 & 2000 square feet dwelling, respectively.

However, the square footage doesn’t necessarily ascertain the amount of electricity consumed. For example, a 2500 square feet dwelling with most gas-run appliances consumes less electricity than a 1500 square feet dwelling with electric vehicles and appliances.  

California Average Electric Bill VS. Other States  

California remains third in the top five states with the highest electricity bills, with Hawaii being the highest at $215, followed by Connecticut at $195.  Why? Compared to other states, it has one of the highest electric prices, at 29.49 cents per kWh in January 2024.

Source: EIA

How have California Electric Bills changed in Recent Years?   

Electric bills in a state/country increase over time, primarily due to rising energy costs and more extreme temperatures, which increase electricity consumption for heating and cooling. Unfortunately, Californians have experienced a much more rapid growth at an average of 7.7% yearly.

For example, in January 2023, the average electricity cost was 26.48 cents/kWh, which has increased to 29.41 cents/kWh in 2024, around an 11% increase.

The reasons for these uproaring rates are plenty. Two major upticks are the cost of natural gas that power plants use and the rising costs of maintaining the electric grid.

Utilities have spent a slew of funds in previous years to strengthen their infrastructure and prevent any damage from wildfires and wind storms. Sadly, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) allows utilities to pass the cost on to billpayers.

Charges Based On Income

Regulators are debating a new plan to ease Californians' wallets. Under the plan, agencies will charge fixed rates to consumers based on their respective incomes. For example, the proposal from the largest utilities in the state starts at $15 for the lowest income group and maxes out at a whopping $128 for SDG&E customers.

Here’s what fixed rates the utilities charge for respective income groups:

Source: CPUC

Until now, the rule has been simple: You pay for how much you use. However, with the new plan, utilities believe low and middle-income customers will save up to $300 per year.

It might seem suitable for some, but some feel the proposed billing changes will concern those trying to conserve electricity by using gas-run appliances or investing in solar or wind power. In other words, the proposed changes might discourage energy conservation & use of renewable energy sources and make living in the state less affordable.  

Another major issue in implementing the proposal is categorizing around 14 million households into income brackets. While a third-party administrator needs to verify individual incomes, the procedure is unclear, and people will raise questions regarding data privacy.

Why Is My Electric Bill So High in California?   

In January 2024, Californians paid around a 29% higher rate for their electricity consumption than the rest of the country. The reasons are many: inefficient and outdated electricity grid system in the state, climate influence, tiered pricing structures, time-of-use rates, and a complex electricity market. Let’s understand these in detail:

Inefficient and Outdated Electricity Grid System

California produces approximately 70% of the electricity in its in-house grids and imports 30% from nearby Northeast and Southwest states. Unlike other goods, importing electricity is a costly endeavor, especially in late summer when consumption is at peak and hydroelectric generators aren’t at their optimal potential.

To meet the soaring demands, utilities must build or upgrade the grids or continue sourcing electricity. Both of these require a large budget, which ultimately indicates rising rates.

Besides, there’s also an underlying transmission issue. New grids also demand new transmission lines, which is expensive for a large state like California. Not only new lines but utilities must replace the existing ones that are aging or are destroyed by wildfires.

Simply put, making California’s 150-year-old central electric grid system work for millions of Californians costs a lot. As permitted by CPUC, utilities are passing most of the cost to the bills of ratepayers in the form of price hikes.  

Tiered Pricing Structures

The tiered pricing structure in California is a major contributor to the increase in customer bills. What it means is the rate per kWh differs with the amount of electricity a dwelling consumes. Simply put, a dwelling that consumes more power moves into high-priced tiers and thereby pays more bills. The tiers vary from one utility to another.

For example, in South California Edison’s tiered plan, you start with each billing period at a Tier 1 rate (33 cents/kWh), the lowest price. If you consume more electricity than the baseline allocation, you move to Tier 2, where you’ll pay 43 cents/kWh. So, your bill automatically soars as you use more electrical appliances.

Time-of-Use Rates

Electric utilities of California must transition all customers to Time-of-Use (TOU) rates based on the time of day and season. It majorly contributes towards your higher or lower electric bills.

Peak pricing is from 4-9 PM, and lower rates are applicable at any time before and after that.  The time and rates might vary from one utility to another, but the concept remains the same.

For example, during summer (June-September), SCE charges 63 cents/kWh for electricity between 4 PM and 9 PM, while 26 cents/kWh is charged at other times.  So, understanding and adapting to the rates helps manage and reduce the bills, but it doesn’t take much for things to go sideways.   

Environment Regulations

California has many stringent environmental regulations that aim to implement and use more sustainable energy sources. Complying with these regulations and establishing new transmission lines and grids can be a costly affair, potentially influencing how much bill you pay.  

Climate Influence and Seasonal Variations

This factor isn’t exclusive to California, but it is also true in other states in the US. Changes in climate and increasing demand for cooling and heating throughout extreme summers and winters contribute towards higher electricity consumption and, in turn, skyrocketing bills.

It’s, therefore, important for consumers to anticipate seasonal patterns and manage the use case accordingly.

How Solar Helps in Reducing Electric Bill in California?

Solar power adoption in California is on a spree because of increased community support, high insolation, declining solar costs, and government policies. At the end of 2023, California will complete the installation of 46,874 MW of solar capacity, enough to power 13.9 million homes. In the next five years, the agency expects the state to increase its solar capacity by up to 20,000 MW, which is second highest to Texas at 41,000 MW. Here’s how solar helps reduce the average electric bill in California:  

Harnessing Solar Power for Sustainable Energy

Using the sun’s rays to generate clean and sustainable energy and relying less on traditional and costlier alternatives is a great way to reduce electric bills. One way to do that is investing in Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro, which can charge up to 99% of your available appliances during power outages or when living off-grid.  

Lower Dependency on the Grid

With the installation of solar panels, you’re generating electricity at your home, thereby minimizing dependence on the electrical grid. It is potentially beneficial during the daytime when the sun is at its peak to deliver enough to power your appliances, reduce reliance on natural sources, and cut down your monthly bills.

Long-Term Financial Benefits

Investing in solar panels and generators might feel a bit overbearing at the start, but the amount you save in your monthly electric bill in the long term outweighs the upfront cost.   

Based on the intensity and the amount of sunlight received, an average customer needs around a 9 kW solar panel system to eliminate its dependence on traditional sources. So considering what is the average electric bill in California, your savings can rake up to $23,600 in the next ten years and $52,600 in 20 years.

Besides, multiple government incentives and state-level programs are available in an attempt for people to adopt a clean energy source. These incentives and rebates make solar adoption more feasible.

Jackery Solar Generators Explained

Jackery Solar Generators are one of the most effective solutions to deliver a steady and reliable power supply during an event of power outage and are eco-friendly. They take in the sun’s rays to produce solar power and eliminate over-reliance on traditional power sources, saving a chunk of your overbearing electric bills.

Solar panels and power stations comprise these generators, which work together to collect, convert, and supply electricity to the appliances.

So, how do these work? The monocrystalline silicon solar cells of Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels accumulate the sunlight falling upon them and convert it into DC electricity. Then, a built-in pure sine wave inverter converts DC into AC electricity, which you can transfer to the appliances using Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations to power them.

Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

If you’re on the lookout for a solar generator with the ability to power around 99% of your home and/or outdoor appliances, then Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is an excellent investment choice. With a 3024 Wh battery capacity, it keeps your appliances charged for a long time and reduces reliance on the electricity grid.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another great home power backup to run your appliances for hours without electricity from the grid and cope during power outages. With a LiFePO4 battery with a 2042.8 Wh capacity and an expandable limit to 24 kWh, adding another Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus to the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station helps to waive most of your monthly electricity bill.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh)

The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus Kit (6kWh) is a larger home battery backup solution with a 6128.4 Wh capacity. It consists of 1*Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station, 2*Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus, and 2*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels to support charging of 99% of household appliances. The battery backup has built-in wheels to move it from one place to another.

Average Electric Bill in California FAQs

What size of solar generator do I need for my apartment in California?

Solar generators are a reliable and clean way to cut down on electric bills, but their exact size depends on your home size, the number of appliances you need to power, and for how long.  

Let’s say you have a toaster (850 W), a freezer (200 W), and a dishwasher (250 W) simultaneously running on Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

Then, Working Time = Capacity in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances = 2042.8 Wh × 0.85 / 1300 W = 1.3 H.  

Note: The battery capacity is multiplied by 0.85 since there will be some power loss when charging appliances.

How much is the average energy bill in California?

The average retail price of electricity in California as of January 2024 is 29.49 ȼ per kWh. Considering the average electricity consumption of 630 kWh per month, the average electricity bill in California stands at $186.

What is the average electric bill for a 3-bedroom house in California?

With average rates of 29.49 ȼ per kWh, a three-bedroom house in California pays an average of $182 per month.

Why is my electric bill so high in California?

Your electricity bill in California might be high for the following reasons: outdated electricity grid, tiered pricing structures, time-of-use rates, climate influence, and complex electricity market.

How do I reduce my electric bill in California?

To reduce your electric bill, you must check the plans you opt for, and conserve electricity, or one of the best ways is to go solar by investing in Jackery Solar Generators.  

Final Thoughts

Irrespective of the reasons, the average electric bill in California is skyrocketing. So, it’s high time you adopt solar energy to save the environment and your hard-earned money. Jackery, with its wide and efficient range of solar generators, be it the expandable Solar Generator 2000 Plus, the non-expandable Solar Generator 3000 Pro, or others, lets you power most of your home and outdoor appliances.