Cheap Electricity in the USA

[SteamyTea]

Just spent a few days with my colonial cousins, one who lives in Walnut Creek, California.

She is a very clever, ex banker, and fully qualified accountant, so hates paying for anything.  Got chatting about energy bills and she said they were paying $1000/month.  Now her house is a lot larger than mine, and they work from home now, so would be more expensive.

Now I am home, I thought I would have a look at Californian prices.

California prices are 58% higher than the national average, makes my penny per kWh rural surcharge seem quite reasonable.

 

PG&E Rate	Rate type	Rate per kWh
RESIDENTIAL TIME-OF-USE SERVICE FOR PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CUSTOMERS	TOU	30-61¢
RESIDENTIAL TIME-OF-USE (PEAK PRICING 4 - 9 p.m. EVERY DAY)- All Electric	TOU	36-61¢

 

Southern Californian Edison Rate	Rate type	Rate per kWh
Option B Residence All-Electric Allocation	TOU	18-77¢
Option DT - Single Family All-Electric Allocation	TOU	34-59¢
Option DT - Single Family	TOU	34-59¢
Time-Of-Use Residential (5-8 PM) Single-Family Residence	TOU	29-82¢
Time-Of-Use Residential (Prime) All-Electric Allocation	TOU	27-64¢
Option A Single-Family Residence All-Electric Allocation	TOU	12-92¢
Time-Of-Use Residential Rate (4-9 PM) Single-Family Residence All-Electric Allocation	TOU	30-66¢
Time-Of-Use Residential Rate (4-9 PM) Single-Family Residence	TOU	30-66¢
Option A Single-Family Residence	TOU	12-92¢
Option B Residence	TOU	18-77¢

Data last updated by our partner WattBuy on Feb 8, 2026

San Diego and Electric Co Rate	Rate type	Rate per kWh
DOMESTIC TIME-OF-USE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ENERGY STORAGE, OR ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS	TOU	34-72¢
RESIDENTIAL - TIME OF USE SERVICE - DR	TOU	29-53¢
COST-BASED DOMESTIC TIME-OF-USE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES	TOU	10-71¢
DOMESTIC TIME-OF-USE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING	TOU	27-75¢
DOMESTIC TIME-OF-USE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES	TOU	21-70¢
DOMESTIC TIME-OF-USE FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM	TOU	31-66¢
RESIDENTIAL TIME-OF-USE - DR2 All Electric	TOU	28-68¢

[dpmiller]

Am I right in thinking the standing charges/ delivery costs are much higher in the US?

[SteamyTea]

14 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

Am I right in thinking the standing charges/ delivery costs are much higher in the US?

Never go that far in the conversation.  That is for another day with them, which I have no idea when it will be, but she is looking to retire to Spain, so less of a journey.

[gravelrash]

Daughter lives in Trenton and Electricity is 12c per Kw/h and monthly charge is $6...she has 15Kw of panels which cost $30000 but then claimed a third back from state grant and a third back from Tax as well as capital allowance on full cost on federal tax. Her meter builds credits during over production then uses credits during lean times- so free battery! she gets carbon credits at $900/ year and end of year payment on any outstanding meter credits-which were $1200 last year. She has paid only $60 per year for the benefit of using the grid network.

We are mugs in UK....

[SteamyTea]

1 hour ago, gravelrash said:

Trenton

Ah, Trenton, PA, part of the rust belt.

I lived in Meltdown Midtown, PA, slightly more classy.

Unless she is on the NJ side.

[Oz07]

Yes US leccy is a lot cheaper than ours. I think california is close to double the national US average leccy cost. 

[gravelrash]

On 12/02/2026 at 11:43, SteamyTea said:

Ah, Trenton, PA, part of the rust belt.

I lived in Meltdown Midtown, PA, slightly more classy.

Unless she is on the NJ side.

NJ side but close to Princeton University for work...personally I think US is a Sh**hole, but a lot of the UK is too...

[Alan Ambrose]

But...AI datacentres are slurping up all the leccy and the ram and the hard drives ... so maybe not for long:

 

Western Digital Has No More HDD Capacity Left, as CEO Reveals Massive AI Deals; Brace Yourself For Price Surges Ahead!

 

https://counterpointresearch.com/en/insights/7times-memory-price-surge-threatens-telcos-broadband-router-set-topbox-supply