California woman checked her electricity bill before and after buying a Tesla Model 3 and driving it 700 miles and was left floored
Published on Jul 28, 2026 at 4:04 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 28, 2026 at 4:04 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
When this California woman bought a Tesla Model 3, she never would have guessed the impact it would have on her electricity bill.
YouTuber Shelby Church wanted to illustrate how much her bills had gone up since she bought a Tesla.
You may have visions of skyrocketing costs.
But the real story behind the figures was more nuanced than that.
More and more Tesla owners are speaking out about costs that come with their EVs
Let’s face it, very few people are going to make a radical lifestyle change if it means it’ll cost them more money.
That’s certainly true for EVs, as plenty of people have been scared off buying them for fears that it’ll cost them a small fortune to keep them running and fully charged.
It’s no wonder then that more and more EV owners have been taking to the internet to share their own testimonies.
Whether it’s the total cost of ownership or charging costs, plenty of Tesla owners have done the number crunching for the benefit of other potential EV converts.
That’s certainly what YouTuber Shelby Church was aiming for with her video.
How much difference had a Tesla Model 3 made to this woman’s electricity bill?
Church uses a standard 110V wall outlet at home to keep her Model 3 charged.
In Los Angeles, under a tiered system, her rate comes out at around $0.23 per kWh.
Over one month of driving 700 miles had seen her log 162 kWh, which came out at a cost of $36.14.
“A full charge at a Supercharger is about $12 way cheaper than a tank of gas, right?” she said.
“But remember, that’s only for 240 miles. Most gas tanks are like five or six hundred miles, sometimes more. So you double that and you get the equivalent cost of filling up a gas tank.
“Double that and you get the equivalent cost of filling up a gas tank… basically $25 is the equivalent cost.
“So $60 [for gas] versus $25–$30ish… I mean, it’s basically half the cost of gas to charge your car at a Supercharger, and then at home it’s usually like a little less than that.”
After three years of ownership, she has no complaints.
“I’ve had it for like three years now and I still love it. I would not get a different car… unless I couldn’t charge where I lived,” she said.
Key Features: Tesla Model 3
Powertrain: Single Motor (Rear-Wheel Drive), Dual Motor (Long-Range/Premium)
Top Speed: 125mph
0–62 mph: 6.1 seconds (RWD), 4.4 seconds (Long Range)
Drive Modes: Chill, Standard
Starting Price: $38,630 (RWD), $47,490 (Long Range)
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
