Electricity prices on TOU rate plans are based on the time of day and the season. Prices are lower during the day when clean, inexpensive solar power is abundant. TOU rates encourage you to use energy when it is cleanest and least expensive, and to reduce energy use when it is most costly, on weekdays between the hours of 4pm and 9pm when the sun has gone down and more polluting fossil-fuel generation is used.
With a TOU rate plan you are in control. Take advantage of lower electricity prices in the morning, midday, and late at night. The more you can shift your energy usage to when rates are lower, the more you’ll save.
This rate plan benefits households who can lower their energy usage between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. For example, if you stay up late, try using major appliances like your dishwasher after 8 p.m.
The renewable energy on California’s electric grid is most readily available and least expensive during the day when a large amount of solar energy is being produced. From 4PM to 9PM, as the sun goes down and solar energy is decreasing, demand for energy is peaking as people return home from their daily activities and turn on lights, televisions, appliances, and other electricity-consuming items. Greenhouse-gas emitting fossil fuel power plants are switched on to make up for the decrease in solar energy and increase in energy demand. As a result, energy is more expensive and more polluting during these hours.
By making electricity most expensive from 4PM to 9PM or 5pm to 8PM, TOU rate plans encourage people to use less energy during these hours. When customers shift their energy usage to morning and midday hours, they tap into an abundance of energy on California’s electric grid coming from cleaner, renewable resources and help keep California golden.
Yes, CPA and SCE offer three TOU options for residential customers. Plans include TOU 5- 8p,m., TOU 4 – -9 p.m.,and a TOU “Prime” rate plan specifically for customers with plug-in EVs, residential batteries or other clean energy technologies. This Rate Plan Comparison Tool can help you compare options, while this Appliance Energy Use Cost Calculator will help you estimate customer savings from shifting appliance use to off-peak hours.
Yes, SCE will notify eligible CPA customers by U.S. Mail 90 days and 30 days before switching their plans. Customers who provided SCE with their email address and agreed to be contacted via email may be notified electronically as well.
Based on your past energy usage, you will be placed on the TOU rate which is best for your household, either TOU-D-4-9 p.m. or TOU-D-5-8 p.m. The notification will include a comparison of what you currently pay each year, and what you would pay under TOU rates. No action is necessary to automatically transition to your optimum TOU rate plan. CARE or FERA program discounts will carry over to a TOU rate plan.
CPA residential customers can opt out of Time-of-Use rates before their scheduled transition date by returning the reply card included with your notification letter, completing the online form at sce.com/toutransition, or calling SCE’s dedicated TOU line at 877-287-2140. You can also switch back to a flat/tiered rate at a later date by calling SCE at 877-287-2140.
We encourage customers to try out the new TOU rates to see if they are right for you and your household, especially given the one year of bill protection being offered during this transition. TOU rate plans benefit customers who can shift electricity usage away from times of day when electricity costs more to deliver. TOU rates also help our environment. Remember, customers are always welcome to contact CPA at 888-585-3788 or customerservice@cleanpoweralliance.org to ask questions and learn more about your options.
Some customers may have already chosen a Time-of-Use rate before the default TOU transition began. If you are already on a TOU 4-9PM, TOU 5-8PM, or TOU Prime rate, nothing will change on your account.
As required by the state, SCE is discontinuing certain older TOU rates, including TOU-D-A, TOU-D-B, and TOU-D-T, to better align with California’s clean energy goals. If you are on one of these rates, you should receive a letter from SCE by mail notifying you that your account will be transitioned to a TOU 4-9 p.m., TOU 5-8 p.m., or TOU Prime rate, whichever is lowest cost based on your past usage, 60-90 days before the transition takes place. You can switch to one of the other current TOU rates or to a flat/tiered rate by contacting SCE at 866-678-7964. For more information visit sce.com/discontinued-rate-plans.
Customers who were already on a Time-of-Use rate prior to November 1, 2021 are not eligible for CPA’s Bill Protection program.
Sergei Kotsan serves the Energy Risk Manager for Clean Power Alliance. He has over a decade of experience working on quantitative research and modelling of the wholesale power markets as well as hedging commercial risk and market monitoring. He led commercial operations at TexGen and fundamentals research at Talen Energy on the power supply side. He also has utility experience at Portland General Electric and Pacific Gas and Electric evaluating market risks and financial valuation on the demand side. In addition, he worked at the Market Monitoring Unit at CAISO, developing dashboards and preparing market reports. Sergei holds Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University.
Rachel serves as Project Manager, Settlements for Clean Power Alliance. Rachel is responsible for reviewing and identifying discrepancies with our California Independent System Operator (CASIO) and bilateral counterparty invoices, validating transactions of wholesale market products, and performing after the fact analysis on settlements and Congestion Revenue Rights (CRR) to influence resource optimization and CRR strategies. Prior to joining Clean Power Alliance, Rachel served as a Power Settlements Analyst at Utah Municipal Power Agency for two years where she developed and finalized all settlement processes. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Lewis-Clark State College.
Riju serves as the Website Developer, Communications and Marketing at CPA. He brings over 10 years of software development experience in addition to having a strong background in information technology and server infrastructure. Riju oversees all web related functions at CPA to ensure that the organization is able to effectively sustain meeting the requirements of its rapidly growing digital presence. Prior to joining CPA, Riju worked as a digital content developer at Claremont Graduate University where he developed and launched an online learning platform for the federally funded POLARIS mentoring program for museum professionals. More recently, Riju founded and operated a web development and digital marketing agency which served government organizations, non-profits, and other multi agency partners. Riju holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems & E-Business from Cal Poly Pomona. Riju supports CPA’s overall goal and mission to a cleaner, brighter future.
Jacob Adamson is an Analyst, Data and Systems, at Clean Power Alliance (CPA), where he collaborates with the Data and Systems team to develop and maintain robust data analytics frameworks. Jacob supports cross-functional departments in data enablement and business intelligence, focusing on automating reporting tasks and assisting staff with data requests. With a background in engineering, information technology, regulatory analysis, and data analytics, Jacob brings a wealth of expertise to CPA’s work in the renewable energy sector. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, is a former licensed professional engineer in the state of Colorado, and is a GCP certified professional data engineer. Outside of work, Jacob is passionate about outdoor recreation, conservation, and engineering sustainable community development.
Ammad serves as the Analyst, Strategic Finance at CPA. He comes to CPA with 3 years of prior experience in financial planning and analysis. Ammad most recently served as a Financial Analyst at Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of the Southern Company. In this role, he supported various areas in the Customer Experience division where he ensured timely and accurate financial reporting, conducted monthly expense forecasting, and created 5-year budgets with the approval of the Georgia PSC. He also sat on the 2024 Budget Committee where he contributed to developing guidelines for the company’s budgeting process and identifying areas for cost savings. Ammad earned his Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Central Florida.