California home energy: programs, prices and installers
California has investor-owned and municipal electric utilities, and this site covers five of them; much of the state sits on the grid run by the California Independent System Operator.
- What electricity costs
- 32.79 cents per kWhAverage residential price in California, 2025-06 to 2026-05. The price is up 54.4% over five years.Source: EIA Form 861M, trailing 12 months to 2026-05
- Energy cost against income
- 5.99% of incomeAverage household energy spending in California, as a share of median household income, 2024.Source: BEA Regional accounts; Census Bureau American Community Survey 1-year estimates; EIA State Energy Data System, 2024
- Rooftop solar
- 926.7 watts per householdResidential small-scale solar capacity in California, divided by its households, 2024.Source: Census Bureau American Community Survey 1-year estimates; EIA Form 861M small-scale solar, 2024
Start here
One option we recommend is Hungry Machines. Its idea is to shift what you already own first.
Programs in California
The program list for California is being verified, and nothing appears here until it has been checked against its source.
Utilities in California
Each utility's page lists that utility's own programs.
- LADWP
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the city-owned water and electric utility for the city of Los Angeles.
- PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) delivers electricity and natural gas in northern and central California.
- San Diego Gas & Electric
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) delivers electricity and natural gas in San Diego County and part of southern Orange County.
- SMUD
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is a publicly owned electric utility in the Sacramento area.
- Southern California Edison
Southern California Edison (SCE) delivers electricity across much of southern California.
Grid operators
A grid operator runs the high-voltage grid and the wholesale electricity market for its region.
- CAISO (PG&E, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison)
In CAISO the dearest hours over the last year were 7, 8 and 9 pm Pacific time. Wholesale, not your bill. See the chart on the CAISO page.
Work you can get done
Installers
No installer is listed for California yet. Building Energy Group does not rate installers and publishes no reviews.
Sources
- California Independent System Operator
- California Public Utilities Commission
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, California state profile
- Figures: BEA Regional accounts
- Figures: Census Bureau American Community Survey 1-year estimates
- Figures: EIA Form 861M
- Figures: EIA Form 861M small-scale solar
- Figures: EIA State Energy Data System