03/28/2024

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California Energy Price Data for February 2019

Below are the monthly updates from the most current February 2019 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and December 2018 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 vs. US Fuel Price Gap at 43.9% Premium

$1.00
Price Per Gallon
Above US Average
(CA Average)

The February average price per gallon of regular gasoline in California rose 1 cent from January to $3.28.  The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($2.28) eased to $1.001, a 43.9% difference.

2nd
Ranked By Price

In February, California had the 2nd highest gasoline price among the states and DC, behind only Hawaii but by only $0.004. Californians paid $1.22 a gallon more than consumers in Mississippi, the state with the lowest price.

California vs. US Diesel Price

$0.88
Price Per Gallon Above US Average
(CA Average)

The February average price per gallon of diesel in California eased 1 cent from January to $3.77. The California premium above the average for the US other than California ($2.90) eased to 87.8 cents, a 30.3% difference.

2nd
Ranked By Price

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

Range Between Highest and Lowest Prices by Region

$1.07
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 $0.86 in the Sacramento Region (average February price of $3.14), to $1.07 in Central Sierra Region (average February price of $3.35).

Highest/Lowest Fuel Prices by Legislative District:

 

California Residential Electricity Price

51.8%
Above Average For
Rest of US

California average Residential Price for the 12 months ended December 2018 was 18.97 cents/kWh, 51.8% higher than the US average of 12.50 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s residential prices remained the 7th highest in the nation.

California Residential Electric Bill

24.2%
Growth since 2010

For the 12 months ended December 2018, the average annual Residential electricity bill in California was $1,235, or 24.2% higher ($241) 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 4.6% ($63).

Residential bills, however, vary widely by region, with the estimated annual household usage in 2017 as much as 55% higher in the interior regions compared to the milder climate coastal areas.

Impact on Residential Ratepayers

$5.7b
Premium Above
US Average Price

For the 12 months ended December 2018, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Residential ratepayers paying $5.7 billion more than the average ratepayers elsewhere in the US using the same amount of energy.

California Commercial Electricity Price

62.7%
Above Average For
Rest Of US

California average Commercial Price for the 12 months ended December 2018 was 16.48 cents/kWh, 62.7% higher than the US average of 10.13 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s commercial prices remained the 5th highest in the nation.

California Industrial Electricity Price

102.7%
Above Average For
Rest Of US

California average Industrial Price for the 12 months ended December 2018 was 13.36 cents/kWh, 102.7% higher than the US average of 6.59 cents/kWh for all states other than California. California’s industrial prices remained the 6th highest in the nation.

Impact On Commercial And Industrial Ratepayers

$10.5b
Premium Above
US Average Price

For the 12 months ended December 2018, California’s higher electricity prices translated into Commercial & Industrial ratepayers paying $10.5 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 December 2018 and changes from the previous 12-month period for each end user: