HomeWattCost

PG&E E-1 vs E-TOU-D

E-1 and E-TOU-D cost about the same for a typical California home (within $3 a year). E-1 is cheaper below about 550 kWh a month and E-TOU-D above it, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility PG&ETariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 487 kWh/mo, California

Head to head

ScenarioE-1E-TOU-DCheaper
Typical home, per month$198$198Tie
All-in price per kWh40.7¢40.7¢Tie
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$310$293E-TOU-D
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$310$307E-TOU-D
Fixed charge$24.15$24.15

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 E-1, 12 am on E-TOU-D.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
E-1$246$173$187$160$166$193$232$249$257$183$171$163
E-TOU-D$238$173$187$163$169$196$231$246$253$184$172$166

E-1: price by hour

July weekday.

Same price all day
40.7¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

E-TOU-D: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakPeak
34.2¢47.7¢34.2¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

E-1 or E-TOU-D: common questions

Is E-1 or E-TOU-D cheaper?

E-1 and E-TOU-D cost about the same for a typical California home (within $3 a year). E-1 is cheaper below about 550 kWh a month and E-TOU-D 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, E-TOU-D gives the lower total ($293 against $310 a month).

What is the difference between E-1 and E-TOU-D?

E-1 is tiered: the price per kWh rises with monthly use, with a fixed charge of $24.15 a month. E-TOU-D is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Peak 5 pm–8 pm; lowest price 8 pm–5 pm next day), with a fixed charge of $24.15 a month.

More PG&E comparisons

How the two plans work

E-1: Tiered Rate Plan, Region X

  • In July the first 10 kWh a day cost 32.6¢ each; then 40.7¢ above 10 kWh a day.
  • 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: $24.15 a month.

E-TOU-D: Time-of-Use (Peak 5–8 pm Weekdays)

  • Peak 5 pm–8 pm on July weekdays; 3 of 24 hours carry the top price of 47.7¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 34.2¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 13.5¢.
  • January weekdays range from 34.9¢ to 38.7¢.
  • Summer pricing applies Jun–Sep; winter pricing Oct–May.
  • Weekends differ: off-peak all day.
  • Fixed charge: $24.15 a month.

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