California

SDG&E electricity rates & savings

Understand your bill, compare rate plans, optimize EV charging, and model solar savings for SDG&E customers. Gleam helps San Diego Gas & Electric customers optimize around time-of-use rates, reduce EV charging costs, and get more value from solar export and home battery storage.

Current rate plans

Plan	Type	Good for
Standard / flat rate	Standard	Homes with steady usage across the day
EV-TOU-5	Time-of-use (TOU)	EV owners who can charge overnight or on weekends

Published electricity rates

Rate tier	Price (est.)
Standard flat rate (est.)	$0.43–$0.48/kWh
On-peak / peak (TOU or EV plan)	$0.70–$0.80/kWh
Mid-peak	$0.48/kWh
Off-peak / super off-peak	$0.12–$0.13/kWh
Solar export credit (net metering)	$0.05/kWh (NEM 3.0)

Rates last verified: June 2026. Effective April 2026.

Official sources: Residential rates, Tariff sheet, EV program, and Net metering.

Peak & off-peak hours

Peak · 4pm–9pm daily (summer); 5pm–8pm (winter)

Off-peak · Super off-peak: midnight–6am (EV-TOU-5) / midnight–6am (TOU-DR1)

Illustrative timeline — exact windows vary by season and rate schedule.

Is the TOU or EV plan worth it?

If you drive 700+ miles/month and can charge overnight or on weekends, SDG&E's time-varying rate often saves money — peak rates can run 6.7× off-peak. If most of your usage happens during peak hours (often late afternoon), TOU may cost more than a flat plan.

Calculate charging, usage, and solar economics

Use rates published for SDG&E to estimate home electricity use, EV charging, solar savings, or solar payback with rate inflation and EV impact.

Electricity usage →EV grid charging →Solar payback →Home solar savings →

Solar & net metering

SDG&E uses NEM 3.0 net metering with export credits around $0.05/kWh. Solar customers can generally combine net metering with eligible TOU plans — timing self-consumption vs export matters for savings. Check EV and solar plan compatibility — NEM rules affect which TOU schedules you can enroll in.

Example EV charging savings

Typical EV: 11,000 miles/year (3,143 kWh)

Scenario	Est. annual cost
Charge during peak ($0.80/kWh)	$2,514/yr
Charge off-peak ($0.12/kWh)	$377/yr
Estimated savings (off-peak vs peak)	$2,137/yr

Assumes 11,000 mi/yr, 3.5 mi/kWh, and 100% of EV charging at each rate tier. Real savings depend on your driving, charger, and schedule.

Utility notes

Highest residential rates in continental US (~$0.457/kWh avg, Jan 2026). EV-TOU-5 best for EV owners: super off-peak $0.124/kWh vs on-peak $0.80/kWh — 67¢/kWh spread, most aggressive TOU savings in US. Base Services Charge ~$24/month separate. NEM customers on DR-SES or Solar Billing Plan (EV-TOU-5). Rates approved to increase through 2028.

Frequently asked questions

What are SDG&E's off-peak hours?

midnight–6am (EV-TOU-5 super off-peak)

When are peak electricity rates in California?

4pm–9pm daily (summer); 5pm–8pm (winter)

Can I switch SDG&E rate plans anytime?

Most utilities let you change rate plans, but some TOU or EV schedules require enrollment, smart meters, or a minimum commitment. Confirm on your utility's website.

Is SDG&E's time-of-use plan worth it for EV charging?

Which SDG&E plan is best for EV owners?

EV-TOU-5 is designed for EV households with a super off-peak window (midnight–6am) that can cut charging costs dramatically compared to on-peak periods. Solar customers may need a compatible NEM plan — verify eligibility before switching.

Personalize this for your home

If you're a SDG&E customer, add your provider in Gleam, link your EV, and upload your bill. Gleam finds off-peak charging windows, rate plan savings, and solar opportunities based on your actual usage.

Get Started

Gleam is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by SDG&E or any other utility company. SDG&E is used descriptively to identify the service territory only. Rate information is for reference — always confirm current tariffs on your utility's official website before making billing decisions.