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Below are the monthly updates from the most current July 2020 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and May 2020 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Agency). To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.
California energy prices continued to rise higher, both in absolute terms and compared to the averages for the other states. These outcomes mean that even as many households struggle under the current economic conditions, the state’s energy policies continue to take an increasing share of household incomes both directly in gasoline and utility bills and indirectly as these costs are incorporated into the prices of every other component of the costs of living. Even as the state explores ways to promote a more equitable path in the now delayed economic recovery, the state energy policies continue to ensure that rising costs of living will continue to have a disparate impact on lower and increasingly middle income class households.
The rising energy rates also have important consequences as households shelter in place or maintain their jobs and incomes by working at home. Average residential customer use was up 5% in April compared to the same month a year ago, and up 15% in May. Some households have the potential for offsetting savings from lower gasoline use, but this factor applies primarily to those workers able to continue employment through telework. As indicated by the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics telework data, these workers are generally in higher wage occupations. Lower wage workers in essential industries have had to contend with both cost factors.
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