Quick Answer: What Utilities Cost in California
Electricity: the California residential rate averaged 29.75¢/kWh in 2026 (EIA preliminary year-to-date; 30.92¢ final for 2025) — above the 18.16¢/kWh national average. At the EIA national-standard 899 kWh month, that is $267/month for electricity.
Natural gas: California residential gas averaged $22.01/thousand cubic feet in 2025 (EIA annual) — about $2.12/therm after conversion. A standardized 75-therm heating month runs $159.
Water & sewer: there is no reliable state average — water is priced city-by-city in California. Nationally the combined bill runs about $70–$90/month; see what CCF means on a water bill to decode yours.
The numbers table
Data notes: electric rates are EIA residential averages (¢/kWh) — the 2026 column is preliminary year-to-date, 2025 is final. Gas is the EIA annual residential price ($/thousand cubic feet; therm conversion 1 Mcf ≈ 10.37 therms). Monthly figures use the same standardized usage as our state-by-state guide — 899 kWh electricity, 75 therms gas — so states are comparable on price, not lifestyle. Your actual bill depends on usage, rate plan, and season.
Plug-in meter that shows any appliance's true watts, kWh, and projected monthly cost at the outlet. The cheapest way to find which device explains the gap between your bill and the state average. P3 International spec: 0.2% accuracy, 120V/15A, UL listed.
Check price on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Price & availability shown on Amazon.com.| Line | California | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Electric rate, 2026 YTD | 29.75¢/kWh | 18.16¢/kWh |
| Electric rate, 2025 final | 30.92¢/kWh | 17.57¢/kWh |
| Standardized electric month (899 kWh) | $267 | $164 |
| Gas price, 2025 annual | $22.01/Mcf (≈ $2.12/therm) | ~$1.92/therm (Sep 2026) |
| Standardized gas month (75 therms) | $159 | ~$144 |
| Water + sewer | city-priced — no state average | ~$70–$90 combined |
Why California rates look like this
California’s electric rate sits above the 18.16¢/kWh national average — among the higher-rate states. Market structure matters as much as the number: California runs regulated, with tiered and time-of-use rate designs on the large investor-owned utilities. That means your rate is set through your utility and the state regulator — the levers that move your bill are usage and rate design (tiers, time-of-use), not supplier shopping. Which rate plan fits your household sorts the options.
The EIA trend matters too: California’s residential rate moved from 30.92¢/kWh (2025 final) to 29.75¢/kWh (2026 to date), a 3.8% decrease. On the gas side, residential prices went from $19.14/Mcf in 2024 to $22.01/Mcf in 2025 — a 15% increase. And because the cost driver here is a wide spread between mild coastal and extreme inland climate zones, your own bill swings more month-to-month than any annual average suggests. For how the pieces fit together, see how utility rates, fees, and usage work together.
Water and sewer in California
Water and sewer are set by your city or water district, not the state — two neighbors across a city line can pay very different rates for the same usage. Instead of a state average, run this check:
- Find the unit on your bill — most water bills measure in CCF (hundred cubic feet). What CCF means on a water bill decodes it in two minutes.
- Benchmark usage — a typical household runs about 2–4 CCF per person per month; well above that, a leak is the usual suspect (the 10-minute check).
- Check fixed charges — many water systems have raised base charges faster than usage rates; your bill can climb even with flat usage. Why your water bill is high walks the whole statement.
If your bill runs above these numbers
A standardized table tells you what an 899-kWh month costs — not what YOUR month costs. If your electric bill runs well above $267 and your habits haven’t changed, the cause is almost always usage, not the rate: a wide spread between mild coastal and extreme inland climate zones is the usual driver in California.
Measure before spending on anything:
Plug-in meter that shows any appliance's true watts, kWh, and projected monthly cost at the outlet. The cheapest way to find which device explains the gap between your bill and the state average. P3 International spec: 0.2% accuracy, 120V/15A, UL listed.
Typically $25–35 (our check, Oct 2026) — Amazon shows the current price.Check price on Amazon Price & availability shown on Amazon.com — we may earn a commission.
To turn your own numbers into a dollar figure, the electricity cost calculator does the watts × hours × rate math with your rate pre-filled or your own. For the ranked fix list — free first, then cheap, then big-ticket — start at how to lower your electric bill: the complete guide.
What is the average electric bill in California?
What is the average gas bill in California?
Is there an average water bill for California?
Sources
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A — average residential price by state (retrieved 2026-10-30; 2026 preliminary, 2025 final)
- EIA, natural gas residential price by state, annual (retrieved 2026-10-30; 2025 annual)
- EIA FAQ — average monthly residential electricity use
- Our average utility bills by state (2026) guide — methodology and the 17-state table
