From July 2025 through June 2026, low-carbon sources supplied about 57% of California’s electricity consumption—more than half. Solar contributed almost a third overall, with utility-scale solar providing about 19% and behind-the-meter solar, such as rooftop systems, another 12%. Other clean sources included hydropower at about 9%, nuclear at 6%, wind at 5%, geothermal at nearly 4%, and biofuels at roughly 1%. Fossil fuels supplied about 22%, almost entirely gas, while net imports accounted for another 21%. Because the imports’ generation mix is not specified, they should be kept separate rather than classified as either clean or fossil electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in California?

California’s latest figures show growth in clean electricity per person, but not a new record for overall electricity consumption per person. The 2026 consumption figure of about 7,600 kWh per person was 114 kWh, or roughly 1.5%, below the 2024 record of 7,700 kWh. Meanwhile, low-carbon electricity generation reached about 4,300 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record set in 2025 by 52 kWh, or about 1%. That clean-electricity milestone is worth celebrating, although the shortfall from the overall consumption record warrants attention as electrification and AI increase future electricity needs. These per-person figures alone do not establish whether statewide total electricity consumption is growing.

Suggestions

California should build on its substantial solar contribution by expanding both utility-scale projects and rooftop installations, supported by storage and transmission. Nuclear expansion should also be considered: the neighboring US state of Arizona generates about a quarter of its electricity from nuclear, while the US state of South Carolina gets more than half and France about two-thirds. These regions offer useful examples of nuclear’s potential to provide a large clean-electricity foundation alongside solar. For wind, nearby western regions are particularly relevant: the US states of New Mexico and Colorado generate about 36% and 27% of their electricity from wind, respectively. Combining expanded solar, nuclear, and wind would help California increase clean electricity supply and displace fossil generation associated with climate change and air pollution.

History

The supplied history covers 2024–2026, highlighting several additions to California’s low-carbon electricity generation. Wind increased by 1.6 TWh in 2024 and another 0.6 TWh in 2025, while geothermal added 0.2 TWh in 2025. Nuclear generation increased by 0.7 TWh in 2024 and 0.8 TWh in 2026, underscoring the value of sustaining and expanding this clean-electricity source. Across these recent years, the central priority is to turn individual gains into sustained growth across the low-carbon fleet. Protecting existing clean generation while adding substantial solar, nuclear, and wind capacity would provide a stronger foundation for California’s future electricity demand.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

* 12M = Last 12 months (Jul 2025 – Jun 2026) — a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year.