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California Energy Price Data
for December 2019
 

Below are the monthly updates from the most current December 2019 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and October 2019 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 http://www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

 
California vs. US Fuel Price Gap at 45.3% Premium
 
$1.13
 
Price Per Gallon
Above US Average
(CA Average)
 
 

The December average price per gallon of regular gasoline in California dropped 30 cents from November to $3.62.  The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($2.49) dropped to $1.13, a 45.3% difference, as prices elsewhere in the US were little changed.

 
 
 
2nd
 
Ranked by Price
 
 

In December, California had the 2nd highest gasoline price among the states and DC, behind only Hawaii.  Californians paid $1.40 a gallon more than consumers in Missouri, the state with the lowest price.

 
 
California vs. US Diesel Price
 
$1.01
 
Price Per Gallon
Above US Average
(CA Average)
 
 

The December average price per gallon of diesel in California eased 9 cents from November to $3.95.  The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($2.94) eased to $1.01, a 34.4% difference.

 
 
 
2nd
 
Ranked by price
 
 

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

 
 
Range Between Highest and Lowest Prices by Region
 
$1.26
 
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 $1.00 in the Sacramento Region (average December price of $3.49), to $1.26 in Central Sierra Region (average December price of $3.75).

 
 
Highest/Lowest Fuel Prices by Legislative District:
 
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California Residential Electricity Price
 
52.5%
 
Above Average For
Rest of US
 
 

California average Residential Price for the 12 months ended October 2019 was 19.20 cents/kWh, 52.5% higher than the US average of 12.59 cents/kWh for all states other than California.  California's residential prices remained the 7th highest in the nation.

 
 
California Residential Electric Bill
 
23.3%
 
Growth Since 2010
 
 

For the 12 months ended October 2019, the average annual Residential electricity bill in California was $1,226, or 23.3% higher ($232) than the comparable bill in 2010 (the year the AB 32 implementation began with the Early Action items).  In this same period, the average US (less CA) electricity bill for all the other states grew only 2.7% ($37).

Residential bills, however, vary widely by region, with the estimated annual household usage in 2018 as much as 59% higher in the interior regions compared to the milder climate coastal areas.

 
 
 
$5.8b
 
Premium Above
US Average
 
 

For the 12 months ended October 2019, California's higher electricity prices translated into Residential ratepayers paying $5.8 billion more than the average ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.

 
 
California Commercial Electricity Price
 
66.1%
 
Above Average for
Rest of US
 
 

California average Commercial Price for the 12 months ended October 2019 was 16.79 cents/kWh, 66.1% higher than the US average of 10.11 cents/kWh for all states other than California. 

California's commercial prices rose to the 4th highest in the nation.

 
 
California Industrial Electricity Price
 
105.5%
 
Above Average for
Rest of US
 
 

California average Industrial Price for the 12 months ended October 2019 was 13.40 cents/kWh, 105.5% higher than the US average of 6.52 cents/kWh for all states other than California.  California's industrial prices remained the 6th highest in the nation.

 
 
 
$10.8b
 
Premium Above
US Average Price
 
 

For the 12 months ended October 2019, California's higher electricity prices translated into Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paying $10.8 billion more than ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.

 
 
California Natural Gas Prices
 

Average prices ($ per thousand cubic feet) for the 12 months ended September 2019 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