The short answer
- New SCE solar customers take TOU-D-PRIME; new SDG&E solar customers take EV-TOU-5. Peak is 4–9 p.m. on both.
- Summer weekday peak: 61¢ per kWh on TOU-D-PRIME; 80.2¢ on EV-TOU-5 (SDG&E prices effective Aug 1, 2026).
- Both utilities add a Base Services Charge of about $24 a month that solar credits can't pay.
- LADWP and city utilities have their own plans; see utility pages.
SCE plans
Bundled-service prices from SCE's rate page (Oct 1, 2026), rounded:
| Plan | Season | Peak | Off-peak | Super off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-D-PRIME (required for new solar) | Summer weekdays | 61¢ (4–9 p.m.) | 26¢ | — |
| Winter | 45¢ (4–9 p.m.) | 30¢ | 24¢ (8 a.m.–4 p.m.) | |
| TOU-D-4-9PM | Summer weekdays | 59¢ (4–9 p.m.) | 33¢ | — |
| Winter | 50¢ (4–9 p.m.) | 36¢ | 32¢ (8 a.m.–4 p.m.) | |
| TOU-D-5-8PM | Summer weekdays | 72¢ (5–8 p.m.) | 34¢ | — |
| Winter | 55¢ (5–8 p.m.) | 37¢ | 32¢ |
TOU-D-PRIME requires an EV, a battery or a heat pump, and has no baseline credit. In a community choice city (Clean Power Alliance, for example) SCE bills delivery and the program bills generation, so your prices differ.
SDG&E plans
Prices effective Aug 1, 2026 from SDG&E's pricing plans, for customers who buy power from SDG&E:
| Plan | Peak (4–9 p.m.) | Off-peak | Super off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV-TOU-5 (required for new solar) | 80.2¢ | 49.6¢ | 13.1¢ |
| TOU-DR1, tier 1 | 58.4¢ | 35.7¢ | 26.7¢ |
| TOU-DR2, tier 1 | 58.9¢ | 31.0¢ | — |
The Base Services Charge
Since late 2025, every SCE and SDG&E residential plan has a fixed monthly charge: $24.15 at SCE ($12.08 FERA, $6 CARE) and about $24 at SDG&E ($12 FERA, $6 CARE). Both utilities cut per-kWh prices about 10% when it started. Solar credits can't pay it (SCE, SDG&E).
What it means for solar
- Peak prices are two to six times super off-peak prices, so a battery that powers your home from 4–9 p.m. saves the most.
- Midday power is cheap and midday exports earn little, so run the dishwasher, pool pump and EV charging in the middle of the day.
- Check your plan on your bill before comparing quotes; savings estimates should use it.
Checked against official sources on Oct 1, 2026. Sources are linked in the text. Not legal, tax or financial advice.