Electricity rates in California and what they mean for charging an EV

Average residential price, how it moved over the past year, the state's EV registration fee, and the annual home-charging cost of every current electric car.

California sits at 34.74¢ per kWh on a scale running from 13.11¢ in Nevada to 52.72¢ in Hawaii.

Households in California pay an average of 34.74¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a national average of 19.42¢. That is 79% above the U.S. figure, and it moved up 3.4% from 33.59¢ a year earlier.

EV registration fees in California

Most states charge electric vehicles an extra registration fee to make up for the gasoline tax they do not pay. What California currently has on the books, per the U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center:

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Fee

ZEV owners must pay an annual road improvement fee of $100 upon vehicle registration or registration renewal for ZEVs model year 2020 and later. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will increase the fee annually to account for inflation, equal to the increase in the California Consumer Price Index for the prior year. For more information, see the DMV Registration Fees website. (Reference California Vehicle Code 9250.6 and California Health and Safety Code 44258)

Most efficient, median and least efficient of the 223 electric cars on sale, charged at California prices.

Annual home-charging cost in California, by car

At 34.74¢/kWh and 12,000 miles a year. Sorted from most to least efficient.

States that pay about the same

Cheapest in the country: Nevada (13.11¢), Nebraska (13.25¢), Utah (13.37¢). Most expensive: Hawaii (52.72¢), Massachusetts (29.61¢). See all 51 →

Questions people ask about electricity and EVs in California

How much is electricity in California?

Households in California pay an average of 34.74¢ per kilowatt-hour, against a U.S. average of 19.42¢. That is 79% above the national figure, making it the 2nd most expensive of 51 including DC. Prices moved up 3.4% over the past year, from 33.59¢.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in California?

At 34.74¢ per kWh and 12,000 miles a year, home charging runs from $963 a year for the most efficient car on sale (the Lucid Air Pure) to $2,755 for the least efficient (the GMC Hummer EV SUV 2M20). Public DC fast charging costs substantially more per kWh than charging at home.

Does California charge an EV registration fee?

Yes. California charges an annual fee on electric vehicles of $100, on top of normal registration, to make up for the gasoline tax an EV does not pay. The exact amount depends on the vehicle type — the statutory text is quoted in full above.

Is California a cheap place to run an electric car?

On electricity price alone, no. Charging a typical EV for a year costs $1,479 here, compared with $827 at the national average price. Registration fees and insurance vary by state too and are not included in that figure.

Electricity price is the state-wide average residential rate from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A (May 2026). Your own utility's rate — and any time-of-use plan you are on — can differ substantially. Energy use per 100 miles is derived from EPA ratings; see any car's page for the method.