UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESIDENTIAL BILL
Residential
Rates
SCE offers a variety of rate plan options. You can find
the name of your current rate plan in the Details of Your New Charges section
on page 3 of your bill.
For most residential customers, the standard Residential
Rate is most beneficial. This rate plan features a tiered structure with 5 rate
tiers. Each month, your households energy consumption starts in Tier 1, where
the price per kilowatt hour is lowest. The best way to keep energy costs lower
is to limit your energy consumption to the lower tiers. SCE is committed to
helping customers use less electricity, and save money. Find
ways to save electricity and money. Learn
about money-saving programs for income-qualified customers.
To discuss alternative rate plan options, call us at 1-800-655-4555.
How
Rates Are Set
SCE customers electricity rates are established by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the government body that
regulates all investor-owned utilities in the state. The CPUC assesses rates
every three years through General
Rate Case proceedings.
Understanding Tier 1 (Baseline)
The "baseline allocation" is an established
amount of energy (kWh) allocated for basic services such as lighting, cooking,
heating, and refrigeration usage. Residential customers' baseline allocation is
established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to ensure that
all customers can purchase a basic supply of energy at the lowest rate in
effect and your specific allocation depends upon your baseline region, the
season (winter or summer), and whether your home's source of energy is
electricity only or a combination of electricity and gas.
Understanding the Basic Charge
Southern California Edisons (SCEs) Basic Charge for
residential customers covers some non-energy costs associated with providing
basic services such as bill preparation, meters, meter reading, and customer
accounting. This charge ensures that each residential customer, regardless of
monthly usage, contributes equitably to cover costs associated with providing
basic electric services.
Understanding the Late Payment Charge
Southern California Edisons (SCEs) Late Payment Charge
is assessed on the total amount of any unpaid, past due bill(s). Bills become
past due 19 calendar days from the date the bill is prepared.
Understanding the Generation Component
The Generation component for each rate is broken down into
two rate factors. These are the 1) Utility Retained Generation (URG) factor and
2) the Department of Water Resources (DWR) factor. The Generation components
must be applied separately to a percentage of the total kWh consumed during the
billing period. Due to the frequent fluctuation of the DWR market rate, please
refer to your bill for the current DWR percentage or call (800) 655-4555 for
more information.
Information About SCEs Medical Baseline Allocation Program
If you have a medical condition that requires life-support
equipment or special environmental conditions, you may qualify for extra
savings on your electric bill through Southern California Edisons Medical
Baseline Allocation program. The Medical Baseline Allocation program provides
qualified customers an additional allowance of low-priced
("baseline") energy for specific medical life-support equipment and
specific illnesses.
Schedule
D: The Standard Residential Rate
Southern California Edisons (SCEs) Domestic (D) rate
schedule is the basic rate for residential customers and has a four-tiered
structure. Rates within the schedule increase with the energy consumed above
the residential customer's "baseline allocation."* Typical Schedule D
customers live in single-family homes, apartments, condominiums, or townhouses.
Schedule D may also serve multi-family residences, such as residential hotels
or qualifying recreational-vehicle parks where you pay your electric bill to
SCE and are in a single location.
* Baseline electricity allowances are an established level
of kilowatthours (kWh) provided to residential customers. Pursuant to State
law, baseline allowances represent the electricity necessary to supply a
significant portion (50-60%) of the reasonable needs of the average residential
customer.
Schedule D Options
Special Time-of-Use Rates
Customers who use most of their electricity during
"off-peak" hours could benefit from a time-of-use rate schedule.
The link below provides Special Time-of-Use Rates
information:
Electric Vehicle Pricing Options
The link below provides EV-related information:
Apartment Building, Mobile Home, and RV
Park Options
The link below provides information on the options for
service to multi-family buildings with a single SCE meter, such as apartment
buildings and duplexes, residential hotels, and qualifying recreational-vehicle
parks.
Information on SCE Service Charges
Charges for Southern California Edison (SCE) to establish
your electric service, reconnect electric service, late payment, returned
checks, and for an SCE representative to visit a customer's location reflect
SCEs costs for these activities. The California Public Utilities Commission
has approved these charges.
Complete, detailed pricing information is also available
in Southern California Edisons SCE Tariff Book. To print residential pricing
schedule information, select "File" from your browser menu, and
choose "Print."
