SCE TOU Rates: Plans, Peak Hours, Seasons, and How to Lower Your Bill
If you're an SCE customer, the time you use electricity can affect what you pay. Running the AC or charging an EV during peak hours may cost more than doing the same work later in the evening. Southern California Edison offers several time-of-use plans, each with different pricing windows. The utility also introduced a fixed Base Services Charge in November 2025. This guide compares the main SCE TOU rates, explains seasonal peak hours, and shows when shifting electricity use or adding home battery storage might make financial sense.
SCE Residential TOU Plans: Website Reference Prices
SCE's three main residential time-of-use plans are TOU-D-4-9 PM, TOU-D-5-8 PM, and TOU-D-PRIME. Their peak windows and per-kWh prices differ. SCE's summer season runs from June through September, while winter runs from October through May.
Compare SCE's residential TOU plans
The following rounded reference prices were displayed on SCE's residential TOU plan page when checked on November 11, 2026. They are shown per kilowatt-hour (kWh), before any baseline credit, for customers receiving both delivery and generation from SCE. CCA or Direct Access generation charges may differ. These website figures are not a substitute for the applicable filed tariff or your bill. Prices can change; SCE announced a rate change effective October 1, 2026. Check the prices and conditions that apply to your account before calculating charges.
Plan (SCE; before baseline credit) | Summer weekday on-peak | Summer off-peak | Winter mid-peak | Winter super off-peak |
TOU-D-4-9PM | 4pm to 9pm, 59¢ | 33¢ | 4pm to 9pm, 50¢ | 8am to 4pm, 32¢ |
TOU-D-5-8PM | 5pm to 8pm, 72¢ | 34¢ | 5pm to 8pm, 55¢ | 8am to 5pm, 32¢ |
TOU-D-PRIME | 4pm to 9pm, 61¢ | 26¢ | 4pm to 9pm, 45¢ | 8am to 4pm, 24¢ |
On summer weekends and holidays, SCE uses mid-peak rates instead of weekday on-peak rates. These are 44¢/kWh for TOU-D-4-9PM, 51¢ for TOU-D-5-8PM, and 39¢ for TOU-D-PRIME.
SCE plan | Summer weekend and holiday mid-peak |
TOU-D-4-9PM | 44¢/kWh |
TOU-D-5-8PM | 51¢/kWh |
TOU-D-PRIME | 39¢/kWh |
During winter, the off-peak rate outside the mid-peak and super off-peak windows is listed as 36¢/kWh for TOU-D-4-9 PM, 37¢ for TOU-D-5-8 PM, and 30¢ for TOU-D-PRIME.
What makes the three plans different?
The biggest difference is when each plan charges its highest rate. TOU-D-4-9 PM and TOU-D-PRIME have a 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. peak window. TOU-D-5-8 PM narrows that window to 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., but its listed summer weekday rate is higher. TOU-D-4-9 PM also includes a baseline credit of 9¢ per kWh. TOU-D-PRIME doesn't include that credit and has eligibility requirements. You need an EV, home battery, or heat pump to qualify. PRIME's lower off-peak prices may appeal to households that can move a lot of electricity use outside peak hours. But the right plan depends on your actual usage, not one rate in isolation. Start with how time-of-use rates work, then compare your household's consumption against SCE's plan options.
Shifting Power to Off-Peak: When Home Storage Makes Sense
A home battery can store electricity during cheaper off-peak hours or from solar panels, then supply selected circuits during SCE's peak window. Whether this saves money depends on your plan's rate difference, how much electricity you shift, battery losses, and installation costs. The example below shows how the numbers work.
Estimate the savings from shifting electricity use
Start with your actual SCE plan and hourly usage. Check how much electricity your household uses during peak hours and how much you could shift to cheaper periods. Then account for charging losses, the Base Services Charge, installation costs, and any battery capacity you need to reserve for outages.
EcoFlow TITAN home batteries for peak-hour use
During summer, the gap between SCE's peak and off-peak rates can make shifting electricity worth considering. EcoFlow TITAN home batteries can store off-peak grid electricity or solar power and supply selected circuits during peak hours. The system requires a compatible Smart Home Panel 10 (SHP10), CTs, and installation by a licensed electrician. Actual savings depend on your rate plan and household usage.
EcoFlow TITAN 5000 for selected-circuit peak shifting
If your household has a verified amount of peak electricity use and a modest solar setup or no solar, the EcoFlow TITAN 5000 provides a 5kWh battery for shifting power to selected circuits. It can also expand with compatible extra batteries when you need more storage.
EcoFlow TITAN 5000 Plus for larger solar setups
If you're planning a larger solar array, the EcoFlow TITAN 5000 Plus supports up to 8,000W of solar input across two ports. This gives you more capacity to store daytime solar production and use it during SCE's peak hours.
How the two products fit different solar setups
The EcoFlow TITAN 5000 supports peak-hour energy shifting with smaller DC solar setups. The EcoFlow TITAN 5000 Plus accepts more solar input, making it a better fit for homes with larger arrays. The Plus model doesn't guarantee greater savings. Your SCE plan and electricity use determine the results.
Illustration: How Peak-Shifting Savings Are Calculated
This hypothetical example shows the calculation method using the rounded TOU-D-4-9 PM summer weekday reference prices shown above. It assumes 8 kWh delivered to the home during peak hours and 10% round-trip battery losses. It does not predict your actual electricity charges or savings.
Illustrative example input | Value |
Plan | TOU-D-4-9PM, summer weekday (SCE plan page) |
On-peak price (4pm to 9pm) | 59¢ per kWh |
Off-peak price used to charge | 33¢ per kWh |
Energy shifted per weekday | 8 kWh delivered to the home |
Round-trip losses (assumption) | 10%, so about 8.9 kWh charged |
Daily cost to deliver 8 kWh at peak | 8 × $0.59 = $4.72 |
Daily cost to charge 8.9 kWh off-peak | 8.9 × $0.33 = about $2.94 |
Daily difference | about $1.78 |
Summer weekdays (June to September, about 85 non-holiday weekdays) | about $150 for the season |
Winter (mid-peak 50¢ vs super off-peak 32¢, losses included) | 8 × $0.50 − (8 ÷ 0.90 × $0.32) = about $1.16 per day, using the same assumed 8 kWh delivered and 10% round-trip loss. |
Not included | Base Services Charge (paid regardless), baseline credit, equipment and install cost, backup reserve, weekends |
These calculations illustrate a method using assumed energy use, battery losses, and the website reference prices above. They exclude the Base Services Charge, baseline credits, equipment and installation costs, backup reserve, and weekends. The results are illustrations, not guaranteed bill reductions. For a household comparison, use your actual bill, hourly usage, service arrangement, and the applicable prices and conditions in SCE's tariff books. SCE states that the filed tariff controls if published summaries differ. For more context, see how home batteries and TOU savings work together. A fixed charge also applies to these TOU plans regardless of usage.
The SCE Base Services Charge
SCE's Base Services Charge took effect on November 15, 2025, as documented in SCE's January 2026 rate advisory. CPUC Resolution E-5356 approved SCE's implementation pursuant to Decision D.24-05-028. The restructuring separates fixed service costs from usage charges and reduces the per-kWh portion.
How much is the Base Services Charge?
SCE's Base Services Charge FAQ lists the following monthly reference amounts. The exact amount depends on the applicable daily charge and the number of days in the billing cycle.
Customer category | Monthly Base Services Charge |
CARE | $6.00 |
FERA or qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing (DRAH) | $12.08 |
Other residential customers | $24.15 |
The Base Services Charge covers fixed service costs and does not vary with electricity use. SCE's TOU-D-4-9 PM page lists $0.79 per day; the monthly total depends on billing-cycle length. Use the applicable charge shown for your account when comparing total bills. Battery peak shifting does not eliminate this charge. Rate planning and outage preparation are separate parts of managing household electricity. If you live in an area affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs or other utility interruptions, read about SCE outage preparation as well.
How to Lower Your Bill on SCE TOU Rates
You can reduce peak-hour electricity use without buying a home battery. Start with the appliances you can run at another time, then check whether your current plan matches your household's schedule.
Move flexible appliances outside peak hours
Dishwashers, laundry machines, pool pumps, and EV chargers often give you some control over when they run. Schedule them outside your plan's peak window whenever practical.
For example:
TOU-D-4-9 PM: Run flexible appliances before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m.
TOU-D-5-8 PM: Move those loads outside the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. window.
EV charging: Use overnight charging or the winter super off-peak period when your plan allows it.
Air conditioning: Pre-cool your home before peak hours, then adjust the thermostat during the more expensive period.
You don't have to move every appliance or change your whole routine. Start with the larger loads that account for a meaningful share of your electricity use.
Check your usage before changing plans
SCE offers a plan comparison tool that lets customers review available options using their electricity usage. Use your own data rather than choosing a plan based only on its lowest advertised rate. A plan with cheaper off-peak electricity may still cost more if your household uses a lot of power during its peak window. The same approach applies to battery storage. Look at the amount of electricity you can shift and compare the potential difference with the full cost of the system. The basic strategy is peak shaving: reduce the amount of electricity you draw from the grid during the most expensive hours.
Conclusion
SCE TOU rates vary by plan and season. TOU-D-4-9 PM and TOU-D-PRIME use a 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. peak window, while TOU-D-5-8 PM uses 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Base Services Charge also affects your monthly bill, whether or not you shift electricity use. Check your usage data, compare plans, and move flexible loads outside peak hours first. If your numbers support battery storage, compare the EcoFlow TITAN 5000 and EcoFlow TITAN 5000 Plus with the cost of an electrician-installed SHP10 system before deciding.
FAQs
What are SCE peak hours?
SCE's TOU-D-4-9 PM and TOU-D-PRIME plans list peak hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. TOU-D-5-8 PM uses a 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. peak window. Summer weekday pricing differs from weekend and holiday pricing.
When are SCE off-peak hours?
Off-peak hours fall outside the plan's peak window. During winter, SCE also lists a super off-peak period during the day. Check your specific plan because the hours and prices vary.
What is the SCE Base Services Charge?
It is a fixed service charge billed monthly. SCE's FAQ lists monthly reference amounts of $6.00 for CARE, $12.08 for FERA or qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing, and $24.15 for other residential customers. The exact monthly total depends on billing-cycle days. SCE identifies Schedule DM as exempt.
Which SCE TOU plan is cheapest?
It depends on when and how much electricity your household uses. TOU-D-PRIME lists lower off-peak prices, but eligibility requires an EV, home battery, or heat pump. It also doesn't include the TOU-D-4-9PM baseline credit.
Can a home battery save money on SCE TOU rates?
It can, if you shift enough electricity from expensive peak hours to cheaper charging hours. The result depends on the rate difference, battery losses, installation costs, and how much stored energy you use during peak periods. A battery doesn't guarantee lower bills.
For press requests or interview opportunities, reach out to our media team
media.na@ecoflow.com