Is electricity expensive in California?

California's residential average of 34.7¢/kWh is 89% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 50 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).

What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in California?

Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $237 a year at California rates (681 kWh/yr).

How does California compare with other states?

The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). California sits at $420.

Data through June 2026

Cost to run · California · 34.7¢/kWh residential average

How much does it cost to run an electric water heater in California?

$420/yr · median certified model

At 34.7¢/kWh, California ranks among the priciest states for power. The typical certified electric water heater runs about $420 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 an electric water heater. Model choice matters as much as geography: at California rates the most efficient certified model (Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A) costs $237 a year while the most power-hungry (Smart Solar SSG2-ES 120) costs $605 — a spread of $368 every year. For reference, the national extremes are Nevada (13.1¢/kWh) and Hawaii (52.7¢/kWh); the same median electric water heater would cost $159 and $638 a year there.

California

$420

US average

$222

Nevada

$159

Hawaii

$638

Median certified electric water heater (1,210 kWh/yr) per year, at each rate

The cheapest water heaters (electric) to run at California rates

Top 10 by certified kWh, priced at 34.7¢/kWh
#	Model	kWh/yr	$/yr in CA
1	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A	681	$237
2	GE Profile PF40S10FPY01	724	$252
3	Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP2-1A	769	$267
4	GE Profile PH40S10BPY01	773	$269
5	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-M	780	$271
6	Friedrich PROH40 T0 FD120-MSO	780	$271
7	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-M	780	$271
8	Rheem PROPH40 T0 RH120-MSO	780	$271
9	Rheem XE40T10HM00U0	780	$271
10	Rheem XE40T10HMS00U0	780	$271

Price any model at California rates

Your rate, your numbers

Annual use (kWh)

Electricity rate

Per day: $1.15
Per month: $35.03
Per year: $420

1,210 kWh/yr × 34.7¢/kWh = $420/yr

Prefilled with the median certified electric water heater (1,210 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 an electric water heater in California?: About $420 a year for the median ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater, at California's average residential rate of 34.7¢/kWh — that's $35.03 a month.
Is electricity expensive in California?: California's residential average of 34.7¢/kWh is 89% above the U.S. average of 18.3¢/kWh, ranking 50 of 51 jurisdictions (1 = cheapest).
What's the cheapest electric water heater to run in California?: Among currently certified models, the Eco-Logical OMNI-50HP1-1A costs the least at about $237 a year at California rates (681 kWh/yr).
How does California compare with other states?: The same median electric water heater costs $159 a year in Nevada (the cheapest state) and $638 in Hawaii (the priciest). California sits at $420.

Keep digging

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