Quality of Life

Alabama vs California: Electricity Rates

Alabama has cheaper residential electricity than California.

Alabama

AL · South

Winner

16.06 c/kWh

Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).

California

CA · West

30.29 c/kWh

Average residential electricity price in cents per kWh (EIA monthly state data, January 2026 preliminary).

Visual comparison

Alabama16.06 c/kWh

California30.29 c/kWh

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for electricity rates.

Alabama #30 · 16.06 c/kWh

California #47 · 30.29 c/kWh

Best Worst

10 Best States — Electricity Rates

Lower is better

North Dakota

10.92 c/kWh

Nebraska

11.76 c/kWh

Missouri

11.80 c/kWh

Idaho

12.07 c/kWh

Arkansas

12.35 c/kWh

Louisiana

12.46 c/kWh

Oklahoma

12.62 c/kWh

Iowa

12.83 c/kWh

Wyoming

12.85 c/kWh

#10

Montana

12.86 c/kWh

Selected states

#30

Alabama

16.06 c/kWh

#47

California

30.29 c/kWh

Alabama ranks 30th and California ranks 47th nationally for electricity rates.

Related context

Energy & Living Costs

Electricity compounds over a year — especially in climates where AC or heating runs heavily.

MetricAlabamaCalifornia

Gas Price $3.840/gal $5.929/gal Cost of Living Index 88.6 138.5 Average Temperature 62.8°F 59.4°F

Summer Temperature 78.6°F 73.4°F

Winter Temperature 46.5°F 46.2°F

What this means