Is electricity expensive in California?

California's residential average of 35.3¢/kWh is 87% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 50 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest freezer to run in California?

Among currently certified models, the Avanti CF24Q0W costs the least at about $48 a year at California rates (137 kWh/yr).

How does California compare with other states?

The same median freezer costs $52 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $195 in Hawaii (the priciest). California sits at $147.

Data through April 2026

Cost to run · California · 35.3¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run a freezer in California?

$147/yr · median certified model

At 35.3¢/kWh, California ranks among the priciest states for power. The typical certified freezer runs about $147 annually here, which makes choosing an efficient model worth actual dollars, not rounding error.

California sits at rank 50 of 51 — near the very top of the cost table for a freezer. At local rates, certified models span $48 (Avanti CF24Q0W) to $229 (Monogram ZIF361NBR) per year — $180 of annual headroom that depends entirely on which unit you buy. For reference, the national extremes are North Dakota (12.3¢/kWh) and Hawaii (46.6¢/kWh); the same median freezer would cost $52 and $195 a year there.

California

$147

US average

$79

North Dakota

$52

Hawaii

$195

Median certified freezer (418 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest freezers to run at California rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 35.3¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in CA
1	Avanti CF24Q0Wmost efficient	137	$48
2	Liebherr UF3651most efficient	155	$55
3	Kalamera KCF-100E	172	$61
4	Danby DCF035A5WDB	173	$61
5	Arctic King AC35ESKCR1RCM	174	$61
6	Arctic King ARC04B2C	174	$61
7	Midea MRC04M3C	174	$61
8	Cool-living CL-5UFR	195	$69
9	Danby DCF050A5WDB	195	$69
10	Arctic King AC05ESWCR1RCM	196	$69

Price any model at California rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: 40¢
Per month: $12.28
Per year: $147

418 kWh/yr × 35.3¢/kWh = $147/yr

Prefilled with the median certified freezer (418 kWh/yr). Every model page on this site carries its exact certified figure.

Questions, answered with the data

How much does it cost to run a freezer in California?: About $147 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified freezer, at California's average residential rate of 35.3¢/kWh — that's $12.28 a month.
Is electricity expensive in California?: California's residential average of 35.3¢/kWh is 87% above the U.S. average of 18.8¢/kWh, ranking 50 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest freezer to run in California?: Among currently certified models, the Avanti CF24Q0W costs the least at about $48 a year at California rates (137 kWh/yr).
How does California compare with other states?: The same median freezer costs $52 a year in North Dakota (the cheapest state) and $195 in Hawaii (the priciest). California sits at $147.

Keep digging

Rate source: US EIA, average residential price of electricity, see methodology.