$67 in 2006. $196 Today. The 20-Year Bill Chart SCE Hopes You Never See
$67 in 2006. $196 Today. The 20-Year Bill Chart SCE Hopes You Never See
For California homeowners, electricity bills have become a much bigger household expense than they were two decades ago. A simple comparison tells the story: $67 in 2006 versus $196 today. That represents a dramatic increase in the monthly cost of keeping a home powered—and it raises an important question: What changed? The answer is more complicated than simply saying homeowners are using more electricity.
The Cost of Electricity Has Changed
Over the past two decades, Southern California Edison customers have experienced significant changes in electricity pricing, billing structures, and the costs built into electric rates. Today, SCE's average residential customer using 500 kWh per month has a monthly bill of about $187.40 before accounting for the California Climate Credit, according to SCE's June 2026 rate advisory. SCE's average residential rate is currently listed at about 34.4 cents per kWh, with the rate varying depending on the customer's plan and circumstances. The numbers demonstrate an important point: the price homeowners pay for electricity isn't static.
It's Not Just About How Much Power You Use
When homeowners see a larger bill, it's easy to assume the problem is increased consumption. But electricity bills reflect both how much electricity a household uses and what the utility charges for that electricity and its delivery. SCE's current rate structure includes generation, delivery, and other components. The utility also offers multiple rate plans, including time-of-use plans where the price changes depending on the time of day and season. That means two households with similar electricity consumption can potentially have different bills depending on their rate plan, usage timing, and other factors.
Delivery Is a Major Part of the Equation
Electricity doesn't simply appear at the outlet.
It has to travel through an extensive network of transmission lines, distribution lines, substations, transformers, and other infrastructure. SCE identifies its delivery rate as a separate component of the cost customers pay to receive electricity at their homes.
Maintaining and upgrading that infrastructure costs money. California's electricity system is also undergoing significant changes as the state expands renewable energy, electrification, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other technologies. Those changes require investment in the grid—and utility rates are one mechanism through which those costs are recovered.
SCE's Rates Continue to Change
The current situation is particularly important because SCE's rates are not fixed. SCE states that it submits requests to the California Public Utilities Commission throughout the year to change its rates, and those changes can cause monthly bills to increase or decrease. For example, SCE's January 2026 rate advisory showed an average residential rate decreasing from 35.3 cents to 34.5 cents per kWh. The utility estimated that a typical residential customer's monthly bill would fall from $193.06 to $187.56. Then, beginning June 1, 2026, the average residential rate changed again, to approximately 34.4 cents per kWh.
The takeaway is simple: Your electricity bill can change even when your household's electricity habits don't.
The New Base Services Charge
California's residential billing structure has also changed. Beginning in November 2025, residential electricity bills were restructured to include a Base Services Charge as a separate line item. SCE says the change was required under California Assembly Bill 205.
According to SCE, the change reduces the cost paid per kilowatt-hour by approximately 10% while introducing the separate base charge. For homeowners, this makes understanding the entire bill more important than simply looking at the number of kilowatt-hours consumed.
Time-of-Use Pricing Can Make a Difference
When you use electricity can matter, too. SCE's time-of-use plans charge different rates depending on the time of day and season. Some periods can be significantly more expensive than others. For example, SCE currently lists summer weekday on-peak rates that can reach substantially higher levels during afternoon and evening hours, depending on the specific plan.This creates another variable for homeowners.
The same appliances consuming the same amount of electricity can have different costs depending on when that electricity is used.
Why the $67-to-$196 Comparison Matters
A 20-year comparison isn't just about two numbers. It's about showing how the economics of household electricity have changed. If a homeowner's monthly electricity expense rises from $67 to $196, that's an increase of roughly 193%. In other words, the bill is almost three times as large. That doesn't automatically mean electricity consumption tripled. It highlights how important the price of electricity and the structure of utility billing have become. Of course, a direct comparison between a 2006 bill and a 2026 bill isn't a perfect apples-to-apples measure. Household electricity usage, home size, appliance efficiency, rate structures, inflation, and utility programs can all change over time. But the comparison still illustrates why homeowners should pay attention to the cost per unit of electricity and the charges surrounding it, not just their monthly usage.
What Homeowners Should Look At
If your electricity bill seems unusually high, don't immediately assume your family is simply using too much electricity.
Instead, examine:
Your total kWh consumption
Your electricity rate
Your rate plan
Time-of-use periods
Delivery charges
Base services charges
Other fees or adjustments
Changes from previous billing periods
This can help reveal whether the increase is coming primarily from higher consumption, higher prices, or a combination of both.
What This Means for Solar Homeowners
For homeowners considering solar, the long-term trajectory of electricity costs is an important part of the conversation. Solar allows a home to generate electricity on-site rather than purchasing all of its power from the utility. Battery storage can add another layer by allowing homeowners to store energy and use it later. The financial value of these systems depends on the home's electricity consumption, utility rates, rate structure, financing arrangement, solar production, battery configuration, and applicable utility rules.
The important point is that homeowners shouldn't evaluate solar solely by asking:
“How much electricity do I use today?”
They should also consider:
“What might electricity cost over the life of my home energy system?”
The Bigger Picture
The $67 bill from 2006 and the $196 bill today tell a much larger story about California's changing electricity landscape. Electricity rates have evolved. Billing structures have changed. Grid investments have increased. Time-of-use pricing has become more important. And California's energy system continues to transform. For homeowners, that means the electric bill deserves more attention than simply checking the final amount each month. Understanding why the bill is what it is can be just as important as understanding how much electricity the home consumes. The more electricity costs rise, the more valuable that understanding becomes.
Visit myhomesolution.org/2026-california-utility-bill-changes to learn more. $67 in 2006. $196 today. That's a striking change—and it is a reminder that electricity costs aren't determined solely by how much power you use. Rates, delivery costs, billing structures, time-of-use pricing, and broader changes to California's energy system can all affect what homeowners ultimately pay. Before assuming your household is simply using too much electricity, take a closer look at the numbers. The bill may be telling a much bigger story.
