Data Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2021 State Energy Data System (SEDS)
Analysis by CEC Economics
Highlights
- California’s total statewide energy consumption was 3.3% lower in 2022 than in 1990, despite the state being 30% more populous. Energy consumption per capita was 25.8% lower in 2022 than in 1990. By comparison, total and per capita energy consumption for the rest of the U.S. were 16.9% higher and 12.7% lower in 2022 than in 1990, respectively.
- Although energy consumption continued to rebound in 2022, it was still 5.6% lower than in 2019. This is largely due to the industrial sector, where energy consumption fell by 9.0% during the three-year period. On a per capita basis, energy consumption in the industrial sector is two-thirds less than 1990 levels. Per capita energy consumption in the other end-use sectors were more than 20% below 1990’s levels.
Challenge
- The post-pandemic economic rebound contributed to the increase in total and per capita energy consumption in both California and the rest of the U.S. However, California’s energy consumption still trends below pre-pandemic levels. In recent years, energy consumption has decreased faster in California than in the rest of the U.S., partly due to California’s declining population. From 2017 to 2022, total energy consumption fell by 4.1% in California, while consumption rose by 1.3% in the rest of the U.S.
More About
Energy Efficiency
Related Content