HomeWattCost

SDG&E TOU-DR1 vs TOU-ELEC

TOU-DR1 and TOU-ELEC cost about the same for a typical California home (within $13 a year). TOU-DR1 is cheaper below about 600 kWh a month and TOU-ELEC above it, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility SDG&ETariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 507 kWh/mo, California

Head to head

ScenarioTOU-DR1TOU-ELECCheaper
Typical home, per month$246$247Tie
All-in price per kWh48.6¢48.8¢TOU-DR1
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$359$341TOU-ELEC
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$424$412TOU-ELEC
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 12 am on TOU-DR1, 12 am on TOU-ELEC.

TOU-ELEC is an EV or electrification rate: check the eligibility rules on SDG&E’s tariff before switching.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TOU-DR1$296$205$224$191$199$230$275$386$307$213$202$227
TOU-ELEC$263$191$208$182$190$257$300$406$330$241$190$210

TOU-DR1: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakMid-peakPeak
37.4¢46.4¢37.4¢46.4¢69.1¢46.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

TOU-ELEC: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakMid-peakPeak
34.4¢38.9¢34.4¢38.9¢72.6¢38.9¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

TOU-DR1 or TOU-ELEC: common questions

Is TOU-DR1 or TOU-ELEC cheaper?

TOU-DR1 and TOU-ELEC cost about the same for a typical California home (within $13 a year). TOU-DR1 is cheaper below about 600 kWh a month and TOU-ELEC 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, TOU-ELEC gives the lower total ($341 against $359 a month).

What is the difference between TOU-DR1 and TOU-ELEC?

TOU-DR1 is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Mid-peak 6 am–10 am, Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am; lowest price 12 am–6 am, 10 am–2 pm), with a fixed charge of $24.15 a month. TOU-ELEC is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Mid-peak 6 am–10 am, Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am; lowest price 12 am–6 am, 10 am–2 pm), with a fixed charge of $24.15 a month.

More SDG&E comparisons

How the two plans work

TOU-DR1: Standard Time-of-Use, Coastal

  • Mid-peak 6 am–10 am, Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am on July weekdays; 5 of 24 hours carry the top price of 69.1¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 37.4¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 31.7¢.
  • January weekdays range from 43.7¢ to 61.5¢.
  • Summer pricing applies Jun–Oct; winter pricing Nov–May.
  • Weekends differ: Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am.
  • Fixed charge: $24.15 a month.

TOU-ELEC: Time-of-Use for Electrified Homes

  • Mid-peak 6 am–10 am, Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am on July weekdays; 5 of 24 hours carry the top price of 72.6¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 34.4¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 38.1¢.
  • January weekdays range from 33.6¢ to 50.6¢.
  • Summer pricing applies Jun–Oct; winter pricing Nov–May.
  • Weekends differ: Mid-peak 2 pm–4 pm, Peak 4 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am.
  • Fixed charge: $24.15 a month.

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