12/26/2024

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California Energy Price Data for December 2023

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Below are the monthly updates from the most current December 2023 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and  October 2023 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration). To view  additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.  

Overall, California’s energy price rankings had some minor improvements, but they remain at or near the highest  among the contiguous states. Average commercial electricity, gasoline, and diesel prices were again the  highest, and industrial electricity the second highest.

Energy Price (12-month moving average; fuels monthly) Rank Among Contiguous States
Current Month Previous Month
Residential Electricity Rate 4th 4th
Average Residential Electricity Bill 19th 18th
Commercial Electricity Rate 1st 1st
Industrial Electricity Rate 2nd 2nd
Residential Natural Gas Rate 8th 7th
Commercial Natural Gas Rate 6th 5th
Industrial Natural Gas Rate 6th 5th
Gasoline 1st 1st
Diesel 1st 1st

While remaining 56% higher than the average paid in the other states, gasoline prices again saw a drop, with the average California gasoline price down 30 cents from November, and the US average for the other states and DC down 18 cents.  In the latest data from CSAA as of January 5, gasoline prices were up 3 cents in California as the result of issues at 3 of the refineries affecting the state’s regulatorily-isolated supply, but down another 11 cents in the overall US average.

Inflation Remains Level

3.2%
Annual Increase in
California CPI

For the 12 months ending October, the California CPI rose 3.2%, down from 3.6% in September.  In the same period, the US CPI rose 3.2%, down from 3.7% in September.

California vs. Rest of US Fuel Price Gap at 56.4% Premium

$1.67
Price Per Gallon
Above Other
States
(CA Average)

The December average price per gallon of regular gasoline in California eased 30 cents from November to $4.67. The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($3.00) eased to $1.67, a 55.7% difference.

1st
Ranked by
price

In December, California had the highest gasoline price among the contiguous states and DC.  Californians paid $2.03 a gallon more than consumers in Texas, the state with the lowest price.

California vs. Rest of US Diesel Price

$1.60
Price Per Gallon
Above Other
States (CA Average)

The December average price per gallon of diesel in California eased 37 cents from November to $5.53. The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($3.93) eased to $1.60, a 40.6% difference.

1st
Ranked by
price

In December, California had the highest diesel price among the contiguous states and DC.

Range Between Highest and Lowest Prices by Region

$1.88
Price per Gallon
Above Average in
Other States
(Central Coast Region)

The cost premium above the US (other than California) average price for regular gasoline ranged from $1.55 in the Upstate California Region (average December price of $4.55), to $1.88 in Central Coast Region (average December price of $4.88).

Highest/Lowest Fuel Prices by Legislative District

November 2023: Average Price ($ per gallon) of Regular Gasoline
Highest Lowest
CD30 Schiff (D) $4.99 CD35 Torres (D) $4.51
CD32 Sherman (D) $4.92 CD21 Costa (D) $4.50
CD34 Gomez (D) $4.89 CD06 Bera (D) $4.47
CD29 Cárdenas (D) $4.87 CD01 LaMalfa (R) $4.41
CD02 Huffman (D) $4.87 CD09 Harder (D) $4.38
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
SD24 Allen (D) $4.92 SD23 Ochoa Bogh (R) $4.55
SD26 Durazo (D) $4.92 SD29 Newman (D) $4.53
SD39 Atkins (D) $4.90 SD08 Ashby (D) $4.50
SD17 Laird (D) $4.87 SD06 Niello (R) $4.49
SD27 Stern (D) $4.85 SD05 Eggman (D) $4.38
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />
AD51 Zbur (D) $5.06 AD31 Arambula (D) $4.46
AD44 Friedman (D) $4.97 AD07 Hoover (R) $4.44
AD30 Addis (D) $4.95 AD22 Alanis (R) $4.38
AD77 Boerner Horvath (D) $4.93 AD03 Gallagher (R) $4.34
AD17 Haney (D) $4.93 AD13 Villapudua (D) $4.30

California Residential Electricity Price

87.2%
Above Average
for Rest of US

California average Residential Price for the 12 months ended October 2023 was 28.29 cents/kWh, 87.2% higher than the US average of 15.11 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s residential prices were the 4th highest among the contiguous states and DC.

California Residential Electric Bill

19th
Ranked by Cost

For the 12 months ended October 2023, the average annual Residential electricity bill in California was $1,681, or 69.1% higher ($687) 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 21.0% ($286).

In 2010, California had the 9th lowest residential electricity bill among the contiguous states and DC.  In the latest data, it had the 19th highest.

Residential bills, however, vary widely by region.  Transforming the 2022 data recently released by the Energy Commission, estimated annual household usage is as much as 82% higher in the interior regions compared to the milder climate coastal areas, and substantially higher when comparing across counties.

$11.0b
Premium Above
Average Price in
Other States

For the 12 months ended October 2023, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Residential ratepayers paying $11.0 billion more than the average ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.  Compared to the lowest cost state, California households paid $14.6 billion more.

California Commercial Electricity Price

101.7%
Above Average
Price in Other
States

California average Commercial Price for the 12 months ended October 2023 was 23.74 cents/kWh, 101.7% higher than the US average of 11.77 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s commercial prices were the highest among the contiguous states and DC.

California Industrial Electricity Price

140.5%
Above Average
for Rest of US

California average Industrial Price for the 12 months ended October 2023 was 18.66 cents/kWh, 140.5% higher than the US average of 7.76 cents/kWh for all states other than California.  California’s industrial prices were the 2nd highest among the contiguous states and DC.

$18.0b
Premium Above
US Average Price

For the 12 months ended October 2023, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paying $18.0 billion more than ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.  Compared to the lowest rate states, Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paid $23.0 billion more.

California Natural Gas Prices

Average prices ($ per thousand cubic feet; 12-month moving average) for the 12 months ended September 2023 and changes from the previous 12-month period for each end user:

Residential Commercial Industrial
CA, October 2023 $19.75 $15.32 $12.45
CA, October 2022 $19.34 $15.52 $13.21
  Change 2.1% -1.3% -5.8%
<br />
Rest of US, October 2023 $12.61 $9.31 $3.85
Rest of US, October 2022 $13.80 $10.72 $7.10
  Change -8.6% -13.2% -45.8%
<br />
CA premium over Rest of US, October 2023 56.6% 64.6% 223.4%
CA premium over Rest of US, October 2022 40.1% 44.8% 86.1%