Choosing the wrong SCE rate plan after going solar is one of the most expensive mistakes Temecula homeowners make. The difference between the best plan and the wrong plan for a typical 10kW solar home with an EV can exceed $1,500 per year in unnecessary electricity costs. And since SCE defaults new solar customers to a plan based on their prior usage, most homeowners never revisit the question.
This guide covers every SCE rate plan relevant to solar homeowners in 2026: TOU-D-PRIME, TOU-D-4-9PM, TOU-D-5-8PM, and TOU-EV-1. It explains how NEM 3.0 export credits work under the Avoided Cost Calculator, how Temecula's solar production timing aligns with SCE's on-peak and off-peak windows, how battery storage changes the math on every plan, and how to switch plans on SCE's website in under ten minutes.
The $10 monthly minimum charge, CARE and FERA income-qualified discounts, and how to read your SCE bill after going solar are also covered in full.
Why Rate Plan Choice Matters More After Going Solar
Before solar, most SCE customers pay a simple blended rate: you use electricity, you pay per kilowatt-hour at a rate that increases as your usage crosses tier thresholds. After going solar, the calculation changes entirely. Your bill is now driven by two variables: when you use grid electricity and when your solar system produces electricity. Time-of-use plans price electricity differently depending on the hour, so a solar system that produces well at the right time of day can dramatically reduce what you owe.
SCE's Time-of-Use plans divide the day into on-peak periods (the most expensive hours) and off-peak periods (less expensive). All solar customers under NEM 3.0 are required to be on a TOU rate plan. The question is not whether to choose TOU, but which TOU plan maximizes the value of your specific system, usage pattern, and whether you have battery storage or an EV.
Key Concept: The Rate Spread
The financial value of solar on a TOU plan comes from the spread between what you pay for grid power during peak hours and what you save by using solar or battery power instead. On TOU-D-PRIME in summer 2026, that spread is roughly $0.28 per kWh between the off-peak rate and the on-peak rate. Every kilowatt-hour of solar or battery power you use during on-peak hours is worth that full spread. Every kilowatt-hour you export is worth far less under NEM 3.0's Avoided Cost Calculator rates.
SCE TOU Rate Plan Comparison for Solar Homeowners
SCE offers four primary residential TOU plans relevant to solar homeowners in 2026. Approximate rates shown are for the 2026 rate year; SCE adjusts rates annually, so verify current figures in your SCE account before making a final decision.
| Plan | On-Peak Window | On-Peak Rate (Summer) | Off-Peak Rate (Summer) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-D-PRIME | 4PM - 9PM daily | ~$0.50/kWh | ~$0.22/kWh | Solar + battery households; high daytime loads |
| TOU-D-4-9PM | 4PM - 9PM daily | ~$0.46/kWh | ~$0.24/kWh | Solar-only homes with lower evening loads |
| TOU-D-5-8PM | 5PM - 8PM daily | ~$0.44/kWh | ~$0.25/kWh | Households that cook and eat out during 5-8PM; no EV |
| TOU-EV-1 | 4PM - 9PM daily | ~$0.50/kWh | ~$0.14/kWh (midnight-9AM) | Solar + EV households that charge overnight |
Approximate rates shown for illustration; verify current SCE tariff schedules at sce.com before making rate plan decisions.
TOU-D-PRIME: Best for Most Solar Homeowners
TOU-D-PRIME is the plan SCE designed specifically for households that generate their own power. It features the lowest off-peak rates of any SCE residential plan at roughly $0.22 per kWh in summer, combined with a high on-peak rate near $0.50 per kWh from 4PM to 9PM daily. The on-peak window matches the period when solar production is winding down but air conditioning, appliances, and EV charging needs are peaking.
Why this matters: a solar-plus-battery system can charge the battery during the low-rate afternoon window (when solar production is highest) and discharge during the 4-9PM on-peak window, avoiding $0.50 per kWh grid purchases entirely. Without battery storage, TOU-D-PRIME still benefits solar homeowners because any solar production between 11AM and 4PM displaces power that would otherwise be purchased at the off-peak rate.
The plan is available to all SCE residential customers regardless of income, and applies the same 4-9PM on-peak window year-round, which simplifies planning compared to plans with seasonal peak window shifts.
TOU-D-4-9PM vs TOU-D-5-8PM: Understanding the Difference
These two plans share similar rate structures but differ in one critical dimension: the length of the on-peak window. TOU-D-4-9PM runs from 4PM to 9PM (five hours), while TOU-D-5-8PM runs from 5PM to 8PM (three hours).
For solar homeowners, TOU-D-4-9PM is generally the stronger choice because the longer on-peak window means more of the evening hours are priced high. If you have a battery, you want more hours of high-priced power to displace, which maximizes your battery's financial value. If you charge an EV, TOU-D-4-9PM keeps you away from the outlet until 9PM, which is fine if your car plugs in overnight.
TOU-D-5-8PM can win for households without solar or battery storage that have consistent evening loads from 5PM to 8PM (dinner cooking, dishwasher, laundry) that they genuinely cannot shift. The shorter on-peak window means three fewer hours at the high rate. But the off-peak rate is slightly higher than TOU-D-PRIME, so the overall savings for solar households are typically smaller.
TOU-EV-1: The Best Plan for Solar Plus EV Households
TOU-EV-1 adds a super-off-peak overnight charging window from midnight to 9AM at approximately $0.14 per kWh in summer. This rate is roughly 37% lower than TOU-D-PRIME's standard off-peak rate. For a household charging an EV 30 miles per day at 3-4 miles per kWh, overnight charging on TOU-EV-1 saves approximately $180 to $250 per year versus charging at TOU-D-PRIME's off-peak rate.
Combined with a solar system and battery, TOU-EV-1 enables a three-layer savings strategy: solar production covers daytime loads and charges the battery, the battery discharges during the 4-9PM on-peak window, and the EV charges overnight at $0.14 per kWh when neither the solar nor battery is needed. The result is that most electricity consumption in the home costs either nothing (solar-powered) or as close to nothing as SCE's rate structure allows.
TOU-EV-1 does require that you consistently charge your EV during the super-off-peak window. If you regularly need to charge during on-peak hours due to schedule or commute demands, the benefit shrinks and TOU-D-PRIME may be more predictable.
NEM 3.0 Avoided Cost Calculator: What SCE Actually Pays for Your Solar Exports
Under NEM 3.0, solar homeowners who export electricity to the grid no longer receive retail-rate credits. Instead, SCE pays the Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) rate, which is determined by the California Public Utilities Commission and represents SCE's estimated avoided cost of procuring that electricity from other sources.
The ACC rate is significantly lower than retail TOU rates and varies by time of day, season, and year. In 2026, ACC export rates for SCE customers are approximately:
| Time Period | Summer Export Credit | Winter Export Credit | vs. Retail Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4PM - 9PM (On-Peak) | ~$0.06-0.08/kWh | ~$0.04-0.06/kWh | 85% below retail |
| 9PM - Midnight | ~$0.03-0.05/kWh | ~$0.03-0.04/kWh | 88% below retail |
| Midnight - 9AM | ~$0.02-0.04/kWh | ~$0.02-0.03/kWh | 92% below retail |
| 9AM - 4PM (Mid-Day) | ~$0.03-0.05/kWh | ~$0.03-0.04/kWh | 89% below retail |
ACC rates are set by CPUC and updated annually. Verify current rates through SCE's NEM tariff schedule or the CPUC ACC calculator tool.
The practical implication is significant. If you export 1,000 kWh per month during midday hours (which is exactly when a rooftop solar system in Temecula peaks), you earn approximately $30 to $50 in export credits. Under NEM 2.0, those same 1,000 kWh exported at the retail rate of $0.25 would have earned $250 in credits. That is a $200 per month difference for a heavy-export solar home.
This is why NEM 3.0 fundamentally changed the economics of solar in California. Systems sized to cover 100% or more of a home's annual usage now make far less financial sense without battery storage. The optimal NEM 3.0 strategy is to size the solar system to meet on-site consumption, add a battery to store midday surplus, and minimize exports.
The NEM 3.0 Export Math
1,000 kWh exported per month at $0.04/kWh = $40 in credits. 1,000 kWh used on-site (displacing $0.25/kWh grid power) = $250 in savings. The on-site consumption is worth 6x more than the export credit. Every additional kilowatt-hour of battery capacity that converts an export into on-site consumption pays for itself faster than the panels themselves.
On-Peak vs Off-Peak Solar Production Timing in Temecula
Temecula sits at 33.5 degrees north latitude, which gives it excellent solar access year-round. A south-facing rooftop system in Temecula typically produces its peak output between 10AM and 2PM from May through September, with production beginning around 7AM and tapering off by 6PM on summer days. In December and January, peak production hours shift to 10AM-1PM and total daily output drops by roughly 35-40% compared to summer.
The critical alignment problem under SCE's TOU structure: your solar system produces the most power from 10AM to 2PM. SCE's on-peak window is 4PM to 9PM. These windows do not overlap at all during most of the day. This means your solar production is happening when electricity is cheapest (off-peak), and your highest-rate hours (on-peak) start just as solar production is declining or ending.
Typical Summer Day in Temecula: Solar Production vs SCE Rate Windows
This production-to-rate mismatch is the core argument for battery storage in Temecula. Without storage, your solar panels are generating cheap electricity (relative to retail prices) during the hours when you need it least, and you are buying expensive on-peak electricity at 4-9PM when solar production has already dropped below your home's demand.
With a battery, you capture the midday solar surplus at effectively $0 cost, store it, and deploy it during the 4-9PM on-peak window at a $0.50 per kWh avoided cost. A 13.5 kWh battery that fills up by noon and fully discharges by 9PM avoids roughly $6.75 in on-peak charges per day in summer. That is approximately $400 to $600 per summer season from battery dispatch alone.
How Battery Storage Changes Which Rate Plan Is Optimal
Adding battery storage to a solar system is not just about backup power or grid independence. It is an active financial tool that changes which SCE rate plan is mathematically best for your household. Here is how the math shifts across three household configurations.
Configuration 1: Solar Only, No Battery, No EV
Your solar production is entirely consumed on-site or exported. On-peak hours rely on grid power. The best rate plan depends on how much of your load falls in the 4-9PM window. If your evening load is heavy (multiple appliances, family cooking and charging), TOU-D-5-8PM may save money by reducing the on-peak exposure window to three hours. If your evenings are moderate, TOU-D-PRIME or TOU-D-4-9PM produce lower annual bills because their off-peak rates are lower throughout the day, and you benefit more from the cheap midday power your solar generates.
Recommended: TOU-D-PRIME or TOU-D-4-9PM for most households. Run SCE's online comparison tool with your actual usage data to confirm.
Configuration 2: Solar Plus Battery
Battery storage makes TOU-D-PRIME the clear winner in most cases. The strategy: program your battery to charge from 9AM to 3PM (maximum solar production, off-peak rate) and discharge from 4PM to 9PM (maximum on-peak rate). You are effectively buying power at $0.22 per kWh (or $0 from solar) and displacing $0.50 per kWh on-peak purchases. The spread is $0.28 per kWh. Over a full summer with 90 days of consistent battery cycling and a 10 kWh usable discharge capacity, this generates roughly $252 in savings from battery arbitrage alone, on top of the base solar savings.
Recommended: TOU-D-PRIME. The wide rate spread rewards battery cycling more than any other residential plan.
Configuration 3: Solar, Battery, and EV
Adding an EV that charges regularly opens the door to TOU-EV-1's super-off-peak overnight window at $0.14 per kWh. The optimal daily strategy becomes: solar charges the battery during the day, battery discharges during 4-9PM on-peak hours, then the EV charges after 9PM or after midnight at the super-off-peak rate. This three-layer strategy minimizes every dollar paid to SCE. A household driving 35 miles per day (roughly 10 kWh of EV charging) saves approximately $160 to $250 per year on EV charging cost alone by using TOU-EV-1 instead of TOU-D-PRIME, with no meaningful tradeoff in solar or battery performance.
Recommended: TOU-EV-1. The super-off-peak overnight rate is the single best deal in SCE's residential tariff lineup for EV owners.
The $10 Monthly Minimum Charge: What Solar Homeowners Need to Know
All SCE residential customers, including solar homeowners under NEM 3.0, are subject to a minimum monthly bill of $10 plus applicable taxes and utility surcharges. This charge is applied regardless of how much solar your system produces or how much electricity you export to the grid.
In practical terms, most solar homeowners in Temecula pay between $10 and $40 per month on their SCE bill throughout the year, not $0. The $10 floor is actually good news compared to what SCE proposed: the original NEM 3.0 proposal included a fixed grid participation charge of $8 to $12 per day (roughly $240 to $360 per month). Consumer advocates and the solar industry successfully opposed that proposal, and the final NEM 3.0 decision retained the simple $10 minimum bill approach.
You will also pay a handful of non-bypassable charges that appear on every bill regardless of solar production: the nuclear decommissioning charge, the DWR bond charge, and certain public purpose program charges. These typically add $3 to $8 per month on top of the $10 minimum, bringing most solar homeowners' minimum monthly obligation to roughly $13 to $18 before any actual consumption charges.
How to Read Your SCE Bill After Going Solar
SCE's billing format changes significantly after you go solar under NEM 3.0. Understanding what each line means prevents confusion and helps you verify that your system is performing as expected.
Monthly Statement vs Annual True-Up
Under NEM 3.0, you receive a monthly bill that shows current charges but may also carry a running balance. SCE settles the final net energy metering balance at your annual true-up date, which is 12 months after your solar system was approved. During the year, your monthly bill may show a credit balance (if solar production is high) or a small charge (if production is low). The true-up settles the net amount.
Delivery Charges vs Generation Charges
Your SCE bill separates delivery charges (the cost to move electricity through the grid to your home) from generation charges (the cost of the electricity itself). Solar offsets your generation charges most directly. Delivery charges are partially bypassable under NEM 3.0 but not entirely. The non-bypassable charges mentioned above are part of the delivery section of your bill.
Net Energy Metering Credit
When your solar production exceeds your consumption in a billing period, SCE posts a NEM credit to your account. This is calculated using the ACC export rate by time of day. The credit rolls forward to offset future charges. At the annual true-up, any remaining credit above the $10 minimum bill threshold is paid out to you as a check at the ACC rate (not at retail rates).
Production Meter vs Consumption Meter
SCE measures both what your solar system produces (via a production meter installed during interconnection) and your net consumption from the grid (via the bidirectional smart meter). Your bill should show both readings. If your production meter data seems low compared to your inverter's monitoring app, note the discrepancy and contact SCE to verify the meter readings are being captured correctly.
CARE and FERA Discounts for Income-Qualified Solar Homeowners
The California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs provide income-based rate discounts on SCE bills. Both programs apply to solar homeowners on NEM 3.0, and both are stackable with the solar billing credit structure.
| Program | Discount on Electric Bill | 2026 Income Limit (4-person household) | Applies to Solar Customers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARE | ~30-35% off electric charges | Up to ~$58,000/year | Yes |
| FERA | ~18% off electric charges | $58,001 - $83,000/year | Yes |
Income limits are approximate and adjusted annually. Verify current thresholds at sce.com/CARE.
For a CARE-qualified solar homeowner in Temecula, the combined financial benefit of solar plus the CARE discount can be substantial. If your pre-solar SCE bill is $280 per month ($3,360 annually), solar might reduce that by 70% to $84 per month. CARE then discounts the remaining $84 by 30-35%, reducing it further to $55-59 per month. Total annual SCE cost with solar and CARE: roughly $660 to $700, versus $3,360 before solar.
You apply for CARE and FERA through SCE's website or by phone. Qualification is renewed every two years. You do not lose CARE eligibility by going solar; solar production does not count as income for program qualification purposes.
How to Switch Your SCE Rate Plan After Going Solar
Switching your SCE rate plan takes about 10 minutes online and can be done once per calendar year. The change takes effect at your next meter read date, typically within 15 to 30 days. Here is the exact process for 2026.
Log into SCE My Account
Go to sce.com and click "My Account" in the top navigation. Sign in with your SCE username and password. If you have not created an online account, you will need your account number (shown on your bill) to register.
Navigate to Rate Plan Options
From the account dashboard, go to Billing and Payment, then select Rate Plans. SCE displays your current rate plan and shows which other plans you are eligible for based on your account type and location.
Use the Rate Plan Comparison Tool
SCE provides a comparison tool that uses your actual 12 months of usage data to estimate what your annual bill would be on each eligible plan. This is the most reliable way to choose because it uses your real consumption pattern rather than generic estimates. The tool may not perfectly model NEM 3.0 export credits, so also check your solar installer's production data.
Select Your New Plan and Confirm
Select the plan you want to switch to and click Confirm. SCE will show you the effective date of the change, which is your next meter read date. You will receive a confirmation email. Keep a record of the confirmation in case there is a discrepancy on your next bill.
Review Your First Bill After the Switch
The billing period of your switch may be prorated across two rate plans depending on your meter read date. Your following full billing cycle will reflect the new rate plan completely. Compare month-over-month usage and charges to verify the switch is producing the expected savings. If your consumption pattern changes seasonally, repeat the comparison tool exercise in spring and fall to confirm you are still on the optimal plan.
How Rate Plan Choice Affects Annual Solar Savings: $500 to $1,500+ Difference
The financial difference between being on the optimal SCE rate plan versus a suboptimal one is not trivial. For a typical 10kW solar home in Temecula using 1,200 kWh per month, the annual difference can range from $500 to over $1,500 depending on household configuration, EV ownership, and battery storage.
| Household Type | Optimal Plan | Est. Annual SCE Bill | Suboptimal Plan | Est. Annual SCE Bill | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar only, no battery, no EV | TOU-D-PRIME | ~$480/yr | TOU-D-5-8PM | ~$820/yr | $340/yr more |
| Solar + battery, no EV | TOU-D-PRIME | ~$180/yr | TOU-D-5-8PM | ~$720/yr | $540/yr more |
| Solar + battery + EV (35mi/day) | TOU-EV-1 | ~$120/yr | TOU-D-4-9PM | ~$1,680/yr | $1,560/yr more |
Estimates are illustrative for a 10kW solar system, 1,200 kWh/month household in Temecula. Actual results vary by system size, orientation, shading, and usage pattern. Run SCE's comparison tool with your actual usage data for an accurate personalized estimate.
These are not marginal differences. Being on the wrong rate plan for a solar-plus-EV household is equivalent to paying for roughly two additional months of electricity every year. The SCE rate plan comparison tool is free, takes about five minutes to use, and can surface significant savings that no installer will proactively point out after the sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best SCE rate plan for solar homeowners in 2026?
For most Temecula solar homeowners, TOU-D-PRIME is the best rate plan in 2026. It has the lowest off-peak rates in the SCE TOU lineup and rewards households that shift daytime electric loads to evenings and weekends. If you also drive an EV, TOU-EV-1 can beat TOU-D-PRIME by adding a super-off-peak overnight charging window at rates near $0.14 per kWh. Homeowners without solar or battery storage often do better on TOU-D-5-8PM because the shorter on-peak window is easier to work around.
What are SCE's NEM 3.0 export credit rates for solar homeowners?
Under NEM 3.0, SCE solar customers receive export credits based on the Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) rate, not the full retail TOU rate. ACC rates vary by hour, season, and year. In summer 2026, on-peak export credits (4-9PM) are roughly $0.04 to $0.08 per kWh. Off-peak export credits (overnight and mid-morning) are closer to $0.02 to $0.04 per kWh. This is dramatically lower than NEM 2.0's retail-rate credits, which is why battery storage is essential under NEM 3.0: storing solar production for on-site use during peak hours delivers full retail rate savings of $0.35 to $0.55 per kWh, versus the $0.04 to $0.08 ACC export credit.
Does SCE charge a minimum monthly bill for solar customers?
Yes. SCE charges a minimum monthly bill of $10 plus applicable taxes and fees for all residential customers, including solar homeowners on NEM 3.0. This charge applies regardless of how much solar you produce or export. Even if your solar system generates more electricity than you consume every month, you will still owe at least $10 per month to maintain your grid connection. Most solar homeowners in Temecula end up paying $10 to $30 per month on their SCE bill after going solar, depending on how well their system matches their daily usage pattern.
How does adding a battery change which SCE rate plan is best?
A battery storage system fundamentally changes the SCE rate plan math. Without storage, your solar production peaks at midday (11AM-2PM), which is off-peak on most SCE TOU plans. You may export that surplus at low ACC rates and then buy back expensive peak power (4-9PM). With a battery, you store the midday surplus and discharge it during on-peak hours (4-9PM), avoiding the $0.35 to $0.55 per kWh peak charge entirely. This makes TOU-D-PRIME more valuable because you can fully exploit the spread between the lowest off-peak rate (roughly $0.22 per kWh) and the peak rate (roughly $0.50 per kWh). Homeowners with both solar and battery often save $800 to $1,500 more per year than solar-only homes on the same rate plan.
How do I switch my SCE rate plan after going solar?
You can switch your SCE rate plan online through the SCE My Account portal at sce.com. Log in, navigate to 'My Account', then 'Billing and Payment', then 'Rate Plans'. SCE's rate plan comparison tool lets you compare estimated annual costs on each eligible plan based on your actual usage history. Rate plan changes take effect on your next meter read date, which is typically within 30 days. You can switch plans once per year without penalty. If you are a new NEM 3.0 customer, you should evaluate your plan options before your first 12-month true-up statement to make sure you are on the right plan for your consumption pattern.
Do CARE and FERA discounts apply to solar homeowners on SCE?
Yes. The CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) and FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance) programs provide income-qualified rate discounts that apply to your full SCE bill, including solar customers on NEM 3.0. CARE reduces your SCE electricity charges by approximately 30-35%. FERA provides a smaller discount (roughly 18%) for households that earn too much for CARE but still qualify as moderate income. Both programs are stackable with NEM 3.0 billing. A Temecula solar household on CARE with TOU-D-PRIME can see annual savings of $1,200 to $2,400 compared to the standard rate, combining the solar production benefit and the CARE discount.
Not Sure Which Rate Plan Is Right for Your Solar Setup?
We work with Temecula homeowners every day to match the right solar system size, battery configuration, and SCE rate plan to their actual usage pattern. A 15-minute call can save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Serving Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and the Inland Empire
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