California Solar Authority 10 min read · Updated Sep 1, 2026

SDG&E vs SCE Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates in 2026: The Ultimate Solar & Battery Playbook

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Licensed California CSLB #1027903 Solar & Battery Experts · Irvine HQ
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AI Overview: SDG&E vs. SCE TOU Rate Comparison (2026)

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the highest residential electricity rates in the United States. SDG&E TOU-ELEC charges peak summer rates reaching

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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.82/kWh, while SCE TOU-D-PRIME charges up to
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.66/kWh
during the critical 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM window. Pairing solar panels with a Tesla Powerwall 3 battery eliminates 85% to 95% of monthly electric bills through automated time-of-use peak arbitrage.

Key TOU Rate Benchmarks:

  • • SDG&E Peak Window (4 PM - 9 PM): Up to
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    AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

    Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

    .82/kWh summer on-peak rate schedule.
  • • SCE Peak Window (4 PM - 9 PM): Up to
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    AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

    Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

    .66/kWh summer on-peak rate schedule.
  • • Super Off-Peak Overnight Arbitrage: Batteries charge at
    ✨

    AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

    Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

    .15–
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    AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

    Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

    .24/kWh to power home during expensive peak hours.

1. The Reality of California Utility Rates in 2026

Residential electricity in California is governed by Time-of-Use (TOU) rate pricing, where the price per kilowatt-hour fluctuates based on the time of day and season. Unlike flat-rate billing of the past, California utilities penalize electricity consumption during the exact hours families return home from work and school, turn on air conditioning, cook dinner, and charge electric vehicles.

Time Period Hours of Day SDG&E TOU-ELEC Rate SCE TOU-D-PRIME Rate Tesla Powerwall 3 Action
On-Peak (Expensive) 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.78 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.82 / kWh
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.62 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.66 / kWh
Battery Discharges (Grid Isolated)
Mid-Peak (Moderate) 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.45 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.52 / kWh
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.40 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.44 / kWh
Solar Powers Home & Battery Charges
Off-Peak (Low) 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.28 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.34 / kWh
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.25 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.29 / kWh
100% Direct Rooftop Solar Power
Super Off-Peak 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.15 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.19 / kWh
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.22 –
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AI Overview: SCE vs SDG&E TOU Rate Comparison

Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) impose some of the steepest Time-of-Use (TOU) peak pricing in the United States. Homes without battery storage pay exorbitant 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak rates. Installing a solar + battery system isolates the home from grid price spikes, delivering annual utility savings of $3,500 to $7,000+.

.24 / kWh
Overnight EV Smart Charging
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which California utility has the highest electricity rates? ▼
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has the highest residential electricity rates in the continental United States, frequently exceeding $0.80 per kWh during summer on-peak hours, closely followed by Southern California Edison (SCE).
How does a solar battery automatically navigate TOU rate periods? ▼
Modern energy storage systems like the Tesla Powerwall 3 connect to cloud weather and utility tariff databases, automatically discharging battery power to run the home from 4 PM to 9 PM when grid electricity is most expensive.
Can I charge my battery with cheap grid power during super off-peak hours? ▼
Yes. Under California Net Billing Tariff rules, batteries can be programmed to top off during super off-peak overnight hours (e.g. 12 AM - 6 AM) at rates as low as $0.15/kWh if winter daytime solar generation is low.
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