Sunprint
At a glance
It's the price, not your habits. In 2024, homes that bought power from SDG&E used about 365 kWh a month, the least of the big three, and still paid about $159, in EIA data. Within a year, the bill climbs in summer, when SDG&E's summer prices run from June through October, and when more of your use lands from 4 to 9 p.m. or past 130% of your baseline.
The price per kWh
EIA's utility data shows SDG&E's average residential price for power it supplies rising from 25.8 cents per kWh in 2019 to 43.6 cents in 2024. The CPUC's Public Advocates Office reports a 2% cut on June 1, 2026, to 45.5 cents; its figures leave out the California Climate Credit. When the Base Services Charge started in October 2025, SDG&E says, the price per kWh dropped by about 10%, roughly 5 cents.
The 130% step
On TOU-DR1, one of the time-of-use plans SDG&E lists as most common, your first kWh each month, up to 130% of your baseline allowance, get a credit of 10.7 cents. Past that, every kWh costs more:
TOU-DR1 in summer: the 130% step
Your baseline depends on where you live in SDG&E's area:
| SDG&E climate zone | Summer, kWh a day | Winter, kWh a day | 130% of a 30-day summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal | 9 | 9.2 | 351 kWh |
| Inland | 10.4 | 9.6 | 406 kWh |
| Mountain | 13.6 | 12.9 | 530 kWh |
| Desert | 15.9 | 10.9 | 620 kWh |
Baseline for homes with gas and electric service. Source: SDG&E baseline allowance calculator.
A coastal home crosses 130% of its summer baseline at about 351 kWh in a 30-day month, a desert home at about 620.
4 to 9 p.m., every day
On TOU-DR1, 4 to 9 p.m. is on-peak every day of the year. The cheapest hours are super off-peak: midnight to 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and midnight to 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays. In summer a kWh above 130% of baseline costs 69.1 cents on-peak and 37.4 at super off-peak, almost twice as much for the same power.
The fixed charge
Since October 2025, SDG&E bills most homes a Base Services Charge of about $24 a month, $12 on FERA and $6 on CARE. Because it's charged by the day, SDG&E says most customers pay between $22.22 and $26.18 depending on how many days are in the billing cycle. See our Base Services Charge guide.
San Diego Community Power and Clean Energy Alliance
Most SDG&E homes now get their power from a community choice provider. In 2024 SDG&E delivered power to 1,056,379 homes whose power came from another provider and supplied 307,982 itself; San Diego Community Power served 852,720 homes and Clean Energy Alliance 181,700, in EIA data. If that's you, SDG&E sets your delivery prices and your provider sets your generation prices, and your bill shows both.
What lowers an SDG&E bill
- Use the super off-peak hours. Run the dishwasher, laundry and EV charging from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or overnight on time-of-use plans.
- Compare plans. SDG&E also offers TOU-DR2, with two price periods, and Standard DR, with no time-of-use pricing.
- Income-qualified discounts. CARE and FERA lower the kWh price and the Base Services Charge.
- Make your own power. At SDG&E's prices, each kWh of solar used at home saves the most of the big three. See solar for SDG&E customers.
What a free quote call gets you
- One verified local installer
- The installed price for your roof
- Your payback years from that price
- Free, with no obligation
See what solar could save you
About a minute, and no phone number needed. If the number looks good, a free quote call gets you the exact price.
Common questions
Why is my SDG&E bill so high?
Mostly the price. SDG&E's average residential rate was 45.5 cents per kWh in June 2026, the highest of California's three big utilities, per the CPUC's Public Advocates Office. Summer use, the 4 to 9 p.m. peak and use past 130% of your baseline push a given month higher.
Why are SDG&E rates so high?
In EIA data SDG&E's average residential price for power it supplies rose from 25.8 cents in 2019 to 43.6 cents in 2024, and it was 45.5 cents in June 2026 after a 2% cut. Its homes use less power than PG&E's or SCE's but pay a similar bill.
What is the 130% baseline at SDG&E?
On TOU-DR1, kWh up to 130% of your baseline allowance get a 10.7-cent credit. In summer that's 26.7 to 58.4 cents per kWh depending on the hour, against 37.4 to 69.1 cents above 130%.
What are SDG&E's peak hours?
4 to 9 p.m. every day on its time-of-use plans. Super off-peak is midnight to 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and midnight to 2 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
How do I lower my SDG&E bill?
Move use into super off-peak hours, keep summer use under 130% of your baseline, compare TOU-DR1 with TOU-DR2 and Standard DR, and check whether you qualify for CARE or FERA.
Related guides
- Solar for SDG&E customers
- Average electric bill in California
- The Base Services Charge
- Why is my PG&E bill so high?
- Is solar worth it in California?
- California solar calculator
Prices are rounded and change during the year; check SDG&E's rate pages for your plan. EIA figures are averages. Sources: SDG&E pricing plans · SDG&E baseline allowance calculator · SDG&E: Base Services Charge · SDG&E: Solar Billing Plan · CPUC Public Advocates Office · EIA Form 861. Reviewed October 2026.
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