HomeWattCost

LADWP R-1A vs R-1B

For a typical California home using 507 kWh a month, R-1A is cheaper by about $43 a year ($148 against $151 a month). R-1A is cheaper below about 650 kWh a month and R-1B above it, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility LADWPTariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 507 kWh/mo, California

Head to head

ScenarioR-1AR-1BCheaper
Typical home, per month$148$151R-1A
All-in price per kWh29.1¢29.8¢R-1A
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$235$223R-1B
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$235$228R-1B
Fixed charge$7.90$12.00

Typical home: California average use by month (EIA), shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), before taxes. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 1,000 miles a month; cheapest start any hour on R-1A, 12 am on R-1B.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
R-1A$172$116$129$106$111$131$172$242$190$136$125$143
R-1B$169$121$133$113$117$138$175$238$192$141$131$146

R-1A: price by hour

July weekday.

Same price all day
32.3¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

R-1B: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakMid-peakPeak
26.5¢29.3¢35.1¢29.3¢26.5¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

R-1A or R-1B: common questions

Is R-1A or R-1B cheaper?

For a typical California home using 507 kWh a month, R-1A is cheaper by about $43 a year ($148 against $151 a month). R-1A is cheaper below about 650 kWh a month and R-1B above it, with the same daily pattern of use. Adding an EV driven 1,000 miles a month and charged at each plan’s cheapest hour, R-1B gives the lower total ($223 against $235 a month).

What is the difference between R-1A and R-1B?

R-1A is tiered: the price per kWh rises with monthly use, with a fixed charge of $7.90 a month. R-1B is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Mid-peak 10 am–1 pm, Peak 1 pm–5 pm, Mid-peak 5 pm–8 pm; lowest price 8 pm–10 am next day), with a fixed charge of $12.00 a month.

How the two plans work

R-1A: Residential Service, Zone 1

  • In July the first 350 kWh a month cost 26.4¢ each; then 32.3¢ above 350 kWh a month, then 41.0¢ above 1,050 kWh a month.
  • An average California home (571 kWh in July) goes past the first tier, so extra load such as an EV is priced higher.
  • Fixed charge: $7.90 a month.
  • Minimum bill: $10.00 a month.

R-1B: Residential Time-of-Use

  • Mid-peak 10 am–1 pm, Peak 1 pm–5 pm, Mid-peak 5 pm–8 pm on July weekdays; 4 of 24 hours carry the top price of 35.1¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 26.5¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 8.6¢.
  • January weekdays range from 25.3¢ to 27.6¢.
  • Weekends differ: off-peak all day.
  • Fixed charge: $12.00 a month.

Your own pattern of use decides the winner: compare every LADWP plan on your usage, or see all LADWP plans, sources and peak hours.