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California Energy Price Data
for August 2021
 

Below are the monthly updates from the most current August 2021 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and June 2021 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration).

 
Inflation Rising
 
4.4%
 
Annual Change in
California CPI
June 2021
 
 

For the 12 months ending June, the California CPI rose 4.4%. In the same period, the US CPI rose 5.4%. In both instances, inflation is at its highest level since 2008.

 
 
California vs. US Fuel Price Gap at 42.9% Premium
 
$1.32
 
Price Per Gallon
Above US Average
(CA Average)
 
 

The August average price per gallon of regular gasoline in California rose 6 cents from July to $4.40. The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($3.08) rose to $1.32 cents, a 42.9% difference.

 
 
 
1st
 
Ranked By Price
 
 

In August, California had the highest gasoline price among the states and DC. Californians paid $1.61 a gallon more than consumers in Mississippi, the state with the lowest price.

 
 
California vs. US Diesel Price
 
$1.16
 
Price Per Gallon
Above US Average
 
 

The August average price per gallon of diesel in California rose 10 cents from July to $4.38. The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($3.21) rose to $1.16, a 36.2% difference.

 
 
 
2nd
 
Ranked By Price
 
 

In August, California had the 2nd highest diesel price among the states and DC, behind only Hawaii.

 
 
Range Between Highest and Lowest Prices by Region
 
$1.45
 
Price per Gallon
Above US Average
(Central Sierra Region)
 
 

The cost premium above the US (other than California) average price for regular gasoline ranged from $1.27 in the Central Valley Region (average August price of $4.35), to $1.45 in the Central Sierra Region (average August price of $4.53).

 
 
Highest/Lowest Fuel Prices by Legislative District:
 
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California Residential Electricity Price
 
68.8%
 
Above Average for
Rest of US
 
 

California average Residential Price for the 12 months ended June 2021 was 21.60 cents/kWh, 68.8% higher than the US average of 12.80 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s residential prices remained the 6th highest in the nation and the 4th highest among the contiguous states.

 
 
 
$8.4b
 
Premium Above
US Average Price
 
 

For the 12 months ended June 2021, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Residential ratepayers paying $8.4 billion more than the average ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.

 
 
California Commercial Electricity Price
 
80.4%
 
Above Average for
Rest of US
 
 

California average Commercial Price for the 12 months ended June 2021 was 18.55 cents/kWh, 80.4% higher than the US average of 10.28 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s commercial prices remained the highest among the contiguous states.

 
 
California Industrial Electricity Price
 
127.0%
 
Above Average for
Rest of US
 
 

California average Industrial Price for the 12 months ended June 2021 was 14.78 cents/kWh, 127.0% higher than the US average of 6.51 cents/kWh for all states other than California. Among the contiguous states, only Rhode Island was higher.

 
 
 
$12.4b
 
Premium Above
US Average Price
 
 

For the 12 months ended June 2021, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paying $12.4 billion more than ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy. Compared to the lowest rate states, Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paid $15.9 billion more.

 
 
California Natural Gas Prices
 

Average prices ($ per thousand cubic feet) for the 12 months ended June 2021 and changes from the previous 12-month period for each end-user:

 
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Note: All data sources, methodologies and historical data series available at centerforjobs.org/ca

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact
1301 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.553.4093