California data centers and electricity bills
California ranks 36th of 51 on commercial sales growth and 47th on the amount added (-0.8 TWh). Over the same years the California home price moved +70%, from 19.15 to 32.54 cents per kWh. Data centers are only part of California commercial sales, and none of this shows cause.
California commercial sales by year
California commercial sales rose fastest in 2022, up 4.9% on 2021. Commercial customers are 48% of California electricity sales in 2025.
California commercial sales, GWh
- 118,384'15
- 116,775'16
- 117,682'17
- 115,786'18
- 114,279'19
- 107,006'20
- 108,762'21
- 114,141'22
- 112,936'23
- 115,126'24
- 113,517'25
California sales and prices, 2015 to 2025
| Year | GWh | Change | Home ¢ | Business ¢ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 118,384 | — | 16.99 | 15.73 |
| 2016 | 116,775 | -1.4% | 17.39 | 15.07 |
| 2017 | 117,682 | +0.8% | 18.31 | 15.76 |
| 2018 | 115,786 | -1.6% | 18.84 | 16.34 |
| 2019 | 114,279 | -1.3% | 19.15 | 16.67 |
| 2020 | 107,006 | -6.4% | 20.45 | 17.53 |
| 2021 | 108,762 | +1.6% | 22.82 | 19.18 |
| 2022 | 114,141 | +4.9% | 25.84 | 21.81 |
| 2023 | 112,936 | -1.1% | 29.51 | 23.91 |
| 2024 | 115,126 | +1.9% | 31.97 | 25.54 |
| 2025 | 113,517 | -1.4% | 32.54 | 26.36 |
Where California stands
| Measure | California | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial sales growth 2019-2025 | -0.7% | 36 of 51 |
| Commercial sales added | -0.76 TWh | 47 of 51 |
| Commercial share of sales 2025 | 47.8% | 6 of 51 |
| Home price change 2019-2025 | +69.9% | 1 of 51 |
Large-load tariffs for California
None of the 15 entries on our list names California. That does not mean California has no large-load rules; the list is a sample from one source.
States near California on commercial growth
Keep going
Sources
EIA California sales and prices (CSV); EEI California tariffs. Nominal prices.
Questions
Did data centers raise California electricity bills?
This page cannot say. While the California home price moved +70%, California commercial sales fell 1% (2019-2025); fuel, wires and rate cases in California also move prices.
How fast is California commercial electricity use growing?
California commercial sales grew -0.7% between 2019 and 2025, 36th among 51 places, and added -0.76 TWh.
Is California data-center load published?
No open source gives California data-center load alone, so California commercial sales stand in as a proxy.