Every California Electric Company: Complete Rate Comparison for Solar Homeowners (2026)

California has dozens of electric utilities, but a handful serve the vast majority of homeowners. Here's a comprehensive comparison of every major California utility's residential rates and what they mean for solar savings.

The Big Three: Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs)

These three utilities serve about 75% of California's population and have the highest rates:

SDG&E — San Diego Gas & Electric

• Average rate: $0.45–$0.55/kWh
• Peak TOU rate: up to $0.65/kWh
• Territory: San Diego County, southern Orange County
• Solar payback: 4–5 years
• Solar verdict: Best ROI in the state

PG&E — Pacific Gas & Electric

• Average rate: $0.39–$0.45/kWh
• Peak TOU rate: up to $0.55/kWh
• Territory: Northern and Central California (Bay Area, Sacramento suburbs, Central Valley, Central Coast)
• Solar payback: 5–7 years
• Solar verdict: Excellent ROI

SCE — Southern California Edison

• Average rate: $0.36–$0.42/kWh
• Peak TOU rate: up to $0.55/kWh
• Territory: Inland Empire, Orange County (north), San Gabriel Valley, Ventura County
• Solar payback: 5–6 years
• Solar verdict: Excellent ROI

Municipal Utilities

LADWP — Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power

• Average rate: $0.22–$0.30/kWh
• Territory: City of Los Angeles
• Solar payback: 7–9 years
• Solar verdict: Good ROI, especially with LADWP rebates

SMUD — Sacramento Municipal Utility District

• Average rate: $0.16–$0.24/kWh
• Territory: Sacramento County
• Solar payback: 8–10 years
• Solar verdict: Moderate ROI, best for high-usage homes

Other Notable Utilities

• Riverside Public Utilities: $0.18–$0.22/kWh — Good rates, solar still viable for large homes
• Imperial Irrigation District (IID): $0.12–$0.16/kWh — Lowest in the state, solar payback is longest
• Burbank Water and Power: $0.20–$0.26/kWh — Similar to LADWP
• Pasadena Water and Power: $0.19–$0.25/kWh — Solid local programs
• Anaheim Public Utilities: $0.17–$0.22/kWh — Competitive rates
• Silicon Valley Power (Santa Clara): $0.15–$0.20/kWh
• Modesto Irrigation District: $0.14–$0.18/kWh
• Turlock Irrigation District: $0.13–$0.17/kWh
• Roseville Electric: $0.15–$0.21/kWh
• Redding Electric Utility: $0.14–$0.19/kWh

The Pattern Is Clear

The higher your utility rate, the faster solar pays for itself. But even customers on municipal utilities with lower rates see significant 25-year savings — especially as rates continue climbing statewide.

Enter your bill amount to see your savings, or get a free quote tailored to your utility.