SMUD provides electricity service to Sacramento and the surrounding California area. The local climate significantly impacts energy costs throughout the year.
Sacramento Rate Snapshot
Utility Provider: SMUD
Rate Range: 12.9¢–37.7¢/kWh
Median Rate: 19.6¢/kWh
Rates Updated: February 2026
Rate Overview
SMUD customers in Sacramento typically pay between 12.9¢–37.7¢/kWh depending on their rate plan. The median effective rate is 19.6¢/kWh. The standard Time-of-Day (5-8 p.m.) Rate plan has an effective rate of ~25.3¢/kWh. Use our free sanity check tool to verify if your bill looks typical for your area.
Available Rate Plans
Sacramento residents can choose from several SMUD rate plans. Your optimal choice depends on when you use electricity and your household's usage patterns.
Seasonal Bill Estimates
Electricity bills in Sacramento vary significantly by season due to climate-driven heating and cooling demands.
Compare California Utility Rates
See how Sacramento’s rates compare to other California cities served by different utilities:
Upload your SMUD bill to Utility Check for an independent review. We recalculate every line item — base charges, energy charges, fuel adjustments, taxes, and fees — against the published tariff for Sacramento, California. You'll receive a detailed report showing whether your charges are accurate and if you're on the best available rate plan.
What is the average electricity rate in Sacramento, California?
Electricity rates in Sacramento vary by rate plan, season, and usage level. SMUD offers multiple residential rate structures. Upload your bill to Utility Check to see exactly how your per-kWh rate compares to other Sacramento customers and whether a different plan could lower your costs.
Why is my SMUD bill so high in Sacramento?
High bills in Sacramento can result from seasonal usage spikes, incorrect meter reads, being on the wrong rate plan, or unexpected surcharges. Utility Check's bill verification identifies the specific cause by analyzing your usage patterns, rate structure, and individual line items against SMUD's current tariff schedule.
Does Utility Check work for all SMUD rate plans in Sacramento?
Yes. Utility Check verifies bills across all SMUD residential rate plans available in Sacramento, including standard tiered rates, time-of-use plans, and any special programs. Our analysis covers the full bill — not just the energy charge — so you can be confident every component is correct.
Is my electric bill wrong?
It's hard to tell just by looking at the total. Billing errors, wrong rate plans, and incorrect meter reads are more common than most people realize. The fastest way to find out is to upload your SMUD bill to Utility Check — we compare every line item against the published tariff for Sacramento, California and tell you exactly whether anything is off.
How do I know if I'm being overcharged for electricity in Sacramento?
Compare your per-kWh rate to the average for Sacramento using our free sanity check at utilitycheck.co/sanity-check. If your rate seems high, a full bill verification ($19.99) will identify whether you're on the wrong rate plan, being charged incorrect fees, or if your usage pattern is driving up costs.
Can someone check my SMUD bill for me?
Yes — that's exactly what Utility Check does. Upload your bill and we independently verify every charge against SMUD's current tariff. You'll get a detailed report with findings and step-by-step next steps if any issues are found, or confirmation that your bill is correct.