Electricity rate reference
SolarCalcNow currently uses 34.74 cents/kWh for California.
$0.3474/kWh
34.74 ¢/kWh
EIA Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential column; published August 26, 2026. Divide the published cents/kWh by 100. This preliminary statewide average is a fallback, not your utility tariff. Use your bill's energy-only rate; fixed charges remain payable.
A statewide residential average is a consistent early-planning input, not a reproduction of one utility bill. SolarCalcNow uses it to value electricity consumed directly from the solar system and to establish the annual energy-charge ceiling in the savings model. The calculation does not assume solar removes fixed charges, minimum bills, demand charges, taxes, or every time-of-use period. It also values exported production separately under the selected export assumption. This separation lets you test the effect of a different rate or export value without changing the system's physical production target.
California's statewide average is useful for a first comparison because the energy portion of a bill can be economically important, but export value deserves equal attention. A household that uses much of its solar production directly can experience a different savings pattern from a household that sends a larger share to the grid. Keep those two energy flows separate when reviewing a proposal.
Cooling load, electric vehicles, and other daytime uses can change when electricity is consumed without changing the statewide rate shown here. Review a full year of bills and note the rate plan before choosing an offset target. SolarCalcNow does not turn this state average into a utility-specific claim, and it leaves fixed charges and detailed time-of-use periods outside the core estimate.
These values come from the existing calculator engine. They multiply the annualized usage scenario by the source-linked state rate and do not include fixed charges, future rate increases, or a utility-specific tariff.
| Monthly usage | Annual usage | Modeled energy charge |
|---|---|---|
| 600 kWh | 7,200 kWh | $2,501 |
| 900 kWh | 10,800 kWh | $3,752 |
| 1,200 kWh | 14,400 kWh | $5,003 |
The calculator estimates bill savings from self-consumed solar at the selected residential rate. A higher rate can shorten payback, while a lower rate makes installed cost and export credit assumptions more important.
Utility plans, time-of-use pricing, net billing, fixed charges, and export credits can differ from a statewide average. Check your bill and utility tariff before treating a planning estimate as a quote.