California Utility Cost Calculator
California utilities: about $414 a month for a typical home (electric ~$169, gas ~$91, water ~$56, internet ~$98) at EIA's 33.61¢/kWh. Try your own numbers.
Typical total monthly utility bill in California: $414 for a 1,800 sq ft home with 3 occupants -- $169 electricity, $91 natural gas, $56 water/sewer, and $98 internet under this page's default assumptions. Change the inputs below, or compare states with the utility bill estimator.
| Measure | California | Rank, normal or source |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity price, July 2026 | 33.61¢ per kWh (July 2025 32.66¢, +2.9%) | 2nd highest of 50; 84% above U.S. |
| Use per home, 2024 | 503 kWh a month | 49th highest of 50; 42% below U.S. |
| Electric bill | 503 kWh × 33.61¢ = $169.06, about $169 | 2024: $160.86 at 31.97¢, 8th highest of 50 |
| Natural gas, 2025 average | $22.01 per Mcf (about $2.12 per therm) | 4th highest of 44 (2025 averages); July 2026 $21.35, not used |
| Heating degree days, Jul 2025–Jun 2026 | 1,728 | normal 2,634, 34% below |
| Cooling degree days, same months | 834 | normal 905, 8% below |
| Home energy, 2024 | natural gas 50.4%, electricity 33.9%, small-scale solar 10.8%, heating oil and propane 2.6%, wood 2.2% | EIA SEDS, at the meter |
| In-state generation, 2024 | natural gas 40.5%, solar 22.6%, hydroelectric 13.8% | EIA-923 |
| Largest residential sellers, 2024 | Southern California Edison Co (investor-owned) 22.8%; Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (investor-owned) 13% | EIA-861 |
EIA (EPM 5.6.A, EIA-861, gas annual prices at 10.37 therms per Mcf) read 2026-10-11; NOAA CPC, EIA SEDS and EIA-923 2026-10-13.
Estimate only — these are not official figures
EIA use and prices for California; home-size scaling, gas use, water and internet modeled
Do not rely on these amounts for budgeting or payment. For exact amounts, check the residential rate of Southern California Edison Co or your own utility.
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Pre-filled: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (Residential, July 2026)
Pre-filled: EIA residential natural gas price, 2025 annual average ($22.01/Mcf)
Additional Details
Pre-filled: C2ER Cost of Living Index (via MERIC)
Monthly Electric Bill
Estimated • Based on your inputs
Total Monthly Utilities
$414.00
Annual Utility Costs
$4,968.00
Detailed Breakdown
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
How This Calculator Works
Calculation methodology and assumptions
California inputs: 503 kWh a month (EIA-861 2024) × 33.61¢ (EIA, July 2026), scaled to your home size and occupants; gas $22.01/Mcf ÷ 10.37 = $2.1225/therm (EIA 2025 annual average); water $7.72 per 1,000 gallons and internet $98/month, both from cost-of-living index 140.3; income share on $100,149.
Key State Information
14,217,180 California residential electricity customers (EIA-861, 2024) · cost-of-living index 140.3 · median household income $100,149.
What drives California utility bills
Heating is California's larger weather load: a normal July-to-June brings 2,634 heating against 905 cooling degree days. The 2025–26 heating season peaked in Jan 2026.
Natural gas supplied 50.4% of California home energy in 2024, electricity 33.9%. Small-scale solar supplied 10.8%; the kWh above are grid purchases, so a home with panels buys less.
Southern California Edison Co sold 22.8% of California's 2024 residential electricity, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. 13%.
| Month | Heating | Cooling |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 0 | 203 |
| Aug 2025 | 0 | 291 |
| Sep 2025 | 1 | 165 |
| Oct 2025 | 90 | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | 239 | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | 327 | 0 |
| Jan 2026 | 349 | 0 |
| Feb 2026 | 295 | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | 102 | 35 |
| Apr 2026 | 222 | 0 |
| May 2026 | 100 | 17 |
| Jun 2026 | 3 | 113 |
StateCalc Team
Editorial Team
The StateCalc team builds free financial calculators using data from official government sources including the IRS, U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and state revenue departments. All formulas are validated by an automated test suite and cross-referenced against published data.
Our editorial standardsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the average electric bill in California?
EIA 2024: $160.86 a month (503 kWh × 31.97¢). July 2026 price 33.61¢: $169.
National Data
The full 50-state dataset behind this calculator
Compare California With Other States
Side-by-side tax, housing & cost of living comparisons