Electric Rate Plan Comparison
Every residential time-of-use plan from PG&E, SCE and SDG&E, priced for your usage, EV charging and baseline allowance.
For a home using 600 kWh a month in summer and 500 in winter, mostly in the evening, the cheapest plan open to everyone is E-TOU-D at PG&E (about $2,572 a year), TOU-D-4-9PM at SCE ($2,934) and TOU-DR2 at SDG&E ($3,607), before any baseline credit. Charge an EV overnight (300 kWh a month) and the EV plans win: EV2-A, TOU-D-PRIME and EV-TOU-5. Enter your own numbers below.
Electric Rate Plan Comparison
Cheapest plan you qualify for
| Plan | Per year | Per month | Average per kWh | Who can enroll |
|---|
PG&E residential plans
Summer is June–September. Rates effective June 1, 2026, in cents per kWh, plus a Base Services Charge of $0.79343 a day on every plan.
| Plan | Peak hours | Summer peak / off-peak | Winter peak / off-peak | Cheapest hours | Baseline credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-TOU-C (Peak 4-9 p.m. every day) Any residential customer; PG&E's default plan. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 52.2¢ / 39.9¢ | 39.8¢ / 36.8¢ | 36.8¢, midnight–4 p.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | −8.1¢ on use up to 100% of baseline |
| E-TOU-D (Peak 5-8 p.m. weekdays) Any residential customer. |
5 p.m.–8 p.m. (weekdays) | 47.7¢ / 34.2¢ | 38.7¢ / 34.9¢ | 34.2¢, midnight–5 p.m., 8 p.m.–midnight | None |
| EV2-A (Home Charging) Homes with an electric vehicle, battery storage or an electric heat pump. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 53.8¢ / 22.6¢ | 41.1¢ / 22.6¢ | 22.6¢, midnight–3 p.m. | None |
| E-ELEC (Electric Home) Homes with an EV, battery storage, or an electric heat pump for space or water heating. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 55.2¢ / 33.4¢ | 32.1¢ / 28.5¢ | 28.5¢, midnight–3 p.m. | None |
Source: PG&E electric schedules E-TOU-C (sheet 2, Advice 7921-E), E-TOU-D, EV2 and E-ELEC total bundled rates effective June 1, 2026 (pge.com tariff book).
SCE residential plans
Summer is June–September. Rates effective June 1, 2026, in cents per kWh, plus a Base Services Charge of $0.79400 a day on every plan.
| Plan | Peak hours | Summer peak / off-peak | Winter peak / off-peak | Cheapest hours | Baseline credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-D-4-9PM Any residential customer; SCE's default plan. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. (weekdays) | 59.1¢ / 35.3¢ | 51.7¢ / 38.1¢ | 34.2¢, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | −10.1¢ on use up to 100% of baseline |
| TOU-D-5-8PM Any residential customer. |
5 p.m.–8 p.m. (weekdays) | 75.0¢ / 35.1¢ | 61.4¢ / 38.8¢ | 33.2¢, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. | −10.1¢ on use up to 100% of baseline |
| TOU-D-PRIME Homes with an EV, battery storage or an electric heat pump. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. (weekdays) | 59.9¢ / 27.3¢ | 57.3¢ / 25.3¢ | 25.3¢, midnight–8 a.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | None |
Source: SCE Schedule TOU-D, sheets 2, 4 and 6 (Advice 5829-E, effective June 1, 2026) and Special Condition 1 time periods (sheet 8, effective June 25, 2026), from SCE's 2026 tariff book.
SDG&E residential plans
Summer is June–October. Rates effective August 1, 2026, in cents per kWh, plus a Base Services Charge of $0.79343 a day on every plan.
| Plan | Peak hours | Summer peak / off-peak | Winter peak / off-peak | Cheapest hours | Baseline credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-DR1 Any residential customer; SDG&E's standard plan. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. (weekdays) | 69.1¢ / 46.4¢ | 61.5¢ / 53.1¢ | 37.4¢, midnight–6 a.m., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | −10.7¢ on use up to 130% of baseline |
| TOU-DR2 Any residential customer. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. | 69.6¢ / 41.7¢ | 61.5¢ / 47.4¢ | 41.7¢, midnight–4 p.m., 9 p.m.–midnight | −10.7¢ on use up to 130% of baseline |
| EV-TOU-5 Homes with an electric vehicle registered with the DMV. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. (weekdays) | 80.2¢ / 49.6¢ | 52.4¢ / 46.6¢ | 12.3¢, midnight–6 a.m., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | None |
| TOU-ELEC Homes with an EV, battery storage or an electric heat pump. |
4 p.m.–9 p.m. (weekdays) | 72.6¢ / 38.9¢ | 50.6¢ / 37.7¢ | 33.6¢, midnight–6 a.m., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | None |
Source: SDG&E Total Rates Tables for Schedules TOU-DR1, TOU-DR2, EV-TOU-5 and TOU-ELEC effective August 1, 2026 (sdge.com/total-electric-rates); TOU-DR1/TOU-DR2 time periods (schedule sheet 4) with the weekday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. super off-peak now year-round (sdge.com/super-off-peak-residential); summer June 1-October 31.
How this is calculated
The tool spreads each month's use across the day with a typical household load shape (the "away" shape puts about 31% of use between 4 and 9 p.m., the "home" shape about 28%), adds EV charging in the hours you pick, and prices every hour at each plan's rate for that season and for weekdays (5 of 7 days) or weekends. It then subtracts the baseline credit, where a plan has one, on use up to the plan's share of your baseline allowance, and adds the Base Services Charge.
Rates are the utilities' total bundled rates for customers at the standard income tier who buy power from the utility. Not included: CARE and FERA discounts, the twice-yearly California Climate Credit, taxes and city fees, and Medical Baseline. These lower or raise every plan alike, so the ranking rarely changes. For a firm answer, your utility's online rate comparison uses your actual hourly meter data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which electric rate plan is cheapest in California?
It depends on when you use power. For a home using 600 kWh a month in summer and 500 in winter, mostly in the evening, with no EV, the cheapest plan open to everyone is E-TOU-D at PG&E, TOU-D-4-9PM at SCE and TOU-DR2 at SDG&E (before any baseline credit). Add an EV charged overnight and the EV plans win: EV2-A, TOU-D-PRIME and EV-TOU-5.
What is the difference between E-TOU-C and E-TOU-D?
PG&E's E-TOU-C charges its peak price from 4 to 9 p.m. every day and gives a baseline credit on your first block of use; E-TOU-D's peak is only 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays, with no baseline credit. E-TOU-D tends to win if you can avoid weekday early evenings; E-TOU-C if your use is small enough that the baseline credit covers much of it.
Should I switch to an EV rate plan?
If you charge an EV at home overnight, almost always: the EV plans (PG&E EV2-A, SCE TOU-D-PRIME, SDG&E EV-TOU-5) have much cheaper overnight prices. They also charge more from 4 to 9 p.m., so a home that runs a lot in the evening and charges little gains less. You need the qualifying equipment to enroll.
What is the Base Services Charge?
A fixed daily charge every residential customer of PG&E, SCE and SDG&E now pays, about $24.13 a month at the standard income tier, whatever the plan. CARE and FERA customers pay less. It doesn't change which plan is cheapest.
Does this work if I have solar or a CCA?
Not exactly. Solar customers are billed on net usage under NEM or the Solar Billing Plan, and customers of a community choice provider (such as Clean Power Alliance or Peninsula Clean Energy) pay that provider's generation rates instead of the utility's. The ranking is often similar, but use the utility's own rate analysis with your interval data for a firm answer.
This tool provides an estimate only and is not affiliated with PG&E, SCE, SDG&E or the CPUC. Rates change several times a year; your bill and your utility's rate analysis tool are the final word.