SCE's Rate Sits at 34.5c/kWh in 2026.
Up 83% Since 2015.
More Rate Cases Through 2028.
Southern California Edison's residential rate has risen 83% from 2015 to 2025 (CPUC data) and currently averages 34.5c/kWh, per SCE's own October 1, 2026 rate advisory - roughly double the national average. The CPUC has approved additional rate cases through 2028, though the exact size of future changes isn't public yet. Here is the verified history and what you can actually do about it.
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| Year | SCE Bill (no solar) | Solar PPA Bill (illustrative 3.5%/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $270/mo | $173/mo |
| 2026 | $289/mo | $179/mo |
| 2027 | $309/mo | $185/mo |
| 2028 | $331/mo | $192/mo |
| 2029 | $354/mo | $198/mo |
| 2030 | $379/mo | $205/mo |
| 2032 | $434/mo | $220/mo |
| 2035 | $531/mo | $244/mo |
| 10-Year Total | $44,765 | $24,326 |
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SCE Rate Increase Timeline: 2020 - 2028
SCE residential rates have accelerated sharply since 2020. Years marked "est." reflect CPUC-authorized increases that have not yet taken full effect. See the complete CPUC breakdown with every approved hike for the full detail behind each increase.
Pandemic year - usage surged, rates still climbed
Wildfire cost recovery begins hitting bills
Largest single-year jump in a decade
Infrastructure and wildfire surcharges compound
Estimated from historical trend, not an SCE-published figure
Estimated; SCE's own June 2026 advisory shows little change from this level
SCE's verified current average rate, per its October 1, 2026 rate advisory (the June 1, 2026 advisory had set it at 34.4c, down from 34.5c)
CPUC has approved additional SCE rate cases through 2028; exact by-year amounts are not yet public
CPUC has approved additional SCE rate cases through 2028; exact by-year amounts are not yet public
What SCE Actually Charges Per kWh in 2026
The 34.5c/kWh figure is an average. What you actually pay depends on how much you use and when. Here is how SCE structures its residential rates.
| Rate / Plan | Rate | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (standard tiered) | ~31c/kWh | First ~400 kWh/month (baseline allotment) |
| Tier 2 (standard tiered) | ~42c/kWh | All usage above your baseline allotment |
| TOU-D-4-9PM (peak) | 58c/kWh | 4 PM to 9 PM daily - highest-cost window |
| TOU-D-4-9PM (off-peak) | ~16-20c/kWh | 9 PM to 4 PM daily - lowest-cost window |
| Base Services Charge | $0.79/day (about $24/month) | Fixed monthly charge on every bill regardless of usage (AB 205, effective Nov 2025) |
CPUC Rate Authority: 2026, 2027, 2028
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved SCE's authority to bring rate cases through the end of the current General Rate Case cycle. That does not mean every year brings a large increase: SCE's own advisories effective June 1, 2026 and October 1, 2026 each moved the average by 0.1 cent per kWh. We show verified numbers where we have them and say plainly where we don't.
SCE's current average residential rate is 34.5c/kWh, per its rate advisory effective October 1, 2026 - up 0.1 cent from the 34.4c/kWh set on June 1, 2026. Source: SCE's own rate advisory page.
The CPUC has approved additional rate case activity for SCE through 2028, but the specific dollar or percentage impact for 2027 is not yet public. Check SCE's rate advisory page directly before relying on any estimate, including ours.
The current General Rate Case cycle concludes around this time and a new filing is expected, but no specific rate has been published. Historically SCE's rate has trended upward over multi-year periods, though its most recent advisory was a decrease - treat any specific future number as a guess, not a fact.
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Why SCE Rates Keep Going Up
Three structural forces are driving sustained rate increases for SCE customers, and none of them are going away.
Wildfire Liability and Recovery Costs
SCE's parent company Edison International was hit with a $550 million CPUC finefor its role in the devastating 2017-2018 wildfires. But fines are just the beginning. Wildfire prevention, vegetation management, insurance, and the state's Wildfire Fund all get passed through to ratepayers as surcharges on your monthly bill. These costs are increasing every year as fire seasons worsen.
Massive Infrastructure Investment
SCE is spending billions on grid hardening, undergrounding power lines, and upgrading aging infrastructure. While necessary for safety, the CPUC allows SCE to earn a guaranteed rate of return on these capital investments - meaning every dollar SCE spends on infrastructure generates profit for its shareholders while increasing your rates.
The Regulatory Model Itself
California's investor-owned utility model creates a structural incentive to spend more, not less. SCE's parent Edison International pays hundreds of millions in quarterly dividends to shareholders. Under the CPUC cost-of-service model, the more SCE invests in capital projects, the larger its guaranteed return - and those returns are funded by your electric bill. There is no market force pushing rates down.
What Homeowners Can Actually Do About It
You cannot vote out your utility company. But you can reduce how much power you buy from them.
Illustrative scenario, not a forecast: SCE 2034 figure assumes a 7% compound annual increase (SCE's historical average, not guaranteed) from the current verified 34.5c/kWh rate. PPA figure assumes an illustrative 3.5% escalator from an example starting rate below current SCE - your installer's contract sets the real numbers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much have SCE rates increased over the last 10 years?
SCE residential electricity rates have increased approximately 83% from January 2015 to April 2025 (CPUC Public Advocates Office data). SCE's current average residential rate is 34.5 cents/kWh, per its rate advisory effective October 1, 2026 - the most recent one on record. That is roughly double the national average of about 17 cents/kWh.
Will SCE rates keep going up in 2026, 2027, and 2028?
The CPUC has approved additional SCE rate cases through 2028 as part of the current General Rate Case cycle, but the exact amount of any future increase is not fixed or guaranteed - and rates do not move only in one direction. SCE's June 1, 2026 advisory was a slight decrease, from 34.5 to 34.4 cents/kWh, and its most recent advisory (effective October 1, 2026) was a slight increase, back to 34.5 cents/kWh. Check SCE's own rate advisory page for the current number rather than relying on a forecast.
Why are SCE rates so much higher than the rest of the country?
Three main factors drive SCE rates above the national average: wildfire liability and prevention costs (including the $550M CPUC fine from the 2017-2018 wildfires), massive infrastructure investment in grid hardening and undergrounding, and California's regulatory model that allows utilities to pass costs through to ratepayers while maintaining shareholder returns.
What can SCE customers do to lower their electricity costs?
One option some SCE homeowners use is a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which can start you at a rate below SCE's current rate with a contractually fixed escalator (a common illustrative example is 3.5% - your contract sets the real number), compared to SCE's rate, which has risen roughly 7% a year on average historically (not a guaranteed future rate). PPAs typically have zero upfront cost and zero maintenance responsibility for the homeowner; ask your installer for their specific terms.
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