California residents have faced the steepest increase in electricity costs in the nation, with average household bills rising 39% over the past six years, according to research from UC Berkeley’s Haas Energy Institute.
Researchers attributed the surge to long-standing policy decisions in the Democrat-controlled state that shifted more costs directly onto consumers, according to reporting by the New York Post.
Wildfire-related expenses have also contributed to the spike.
Lawmaker Warns of Pressure on Working Families
Assemblymember Tri Ta, a Republican who represents a working-class district in Orange County, said repeated rate hikes are placing a growing financial strain on constituents.
“I represent a working-class district in Orange County, and constant utility rate increases mean incessant pressure for constituents to make ends meet,” Ta told The Center Square.
He added:
“I am very concerned about the cost of utilities in California.
“The main driver of our high costs is public policy decisions that were made long before I joined the Legislature, but I am tackling them now.”
Costs Rising Alongside California’s High Living Expenses
The increase in electricity bills comes amid already elevated living costs in the state.
Families in California spend roughly $30,000 more than the national average on basic needs, according to data cited from the Transparency Foundation.
Energy analysts say utilities have been permitted to pass along a range of expenses to customers, including:
• Wildfire prevention and recovery costs
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Renewable energy investments
Subsidies supporting rooftop solar installations have also shifted additional financial burdens onto households that do not have solar panels, according to UC Berkeley professor Severin Borenstein.
Other States See Minimal Changes or Declines
In contrast, electricity prices in most other states largely tracked inflation between 2019 and 2025 or even declined.
The study found that Arizona, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, and North Carolina saw increases of only about 1%.
Meanwhile, rates fell in Nevada, Iowa, Alaska, Kansas, and South Carolina.
The widening gap highlights how policy decisions and disaster-related costs have uniquely shaped California’s energy landscape.
The issue is leaving residents to shoulder some of the fastest-rising utility bills in the country.
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