What SCE customers are paying now
Southern California Edison's average residential rate was 34.4 cents per kilowatt-hour in June 2026. That's about double what it was 10 years ago, an average increase of 6.9% a year. Edison bills also now include a fixed monthly Base Services Charge of about $24 for most households, which you pay no matter how much power you use.
Most Edison customers are on a time-of-use plan, where power costs the most from 4 to 9 p.m. That's when air conditioners, cooking and laundry all run, so it's often where a bill gets expensive.
How the bill swap works
A solar provider installs panels on your roof at no cost. They own the system, and you buy the power it makes at a lower rate than the utility charges. This is called a power purchase agreement, or PPA.
- Bill review and roof inspection. We read a recent bill to see your real usage and rate plan, then check your roof's condition and sun exposure.
- Lock in your rate. You see your solar rate in writing before you sign. It rises a fixed 3.5% a year, never more.
- Install and swap. Panels usually go up in one day. Once the utility approves the connection, you pay for solar power, and your utility bill shrinks to what's left.
What it can look like on an Edison bill
You keep paying Edison for the fixed monthly charge and any power you use beyond what your panels make. We add both payments together, so the savings we show are real totals, not just the solar part.
Where we serve Edison customers
Edison serves most of Southern California outside the city of Los Angeles, from the Central Coast to the Inland Empire. Homeowners we help include those in:
- Long Beach and Torrance
- Irvine and Huntington Beach
- Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster
- Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo
- Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley
- Santa Barbara and Goleta
- Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Fontana
- Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee
- Palm Springs and Hesperia
- Visalia and Tulare
If you're in a community choice program
Many Edison customers buy their power through a community choice program, such as Clean Power Alliance or Orange County Power Authority, while Edison still delivers it and sends the bill. The bill swap works the same way. Send us the full bill, including the page from your community choice provider, so we can see your total cost.
Common questions
Does the bill swap work on Edison's time-of-use plans?
Yes. We read your current plan from your bill and design the system around your usage. Many homeowners pair solar with a battery so they use their own stored power during the 4 to 9 p.m. peak instead of buying it from Edison.
Will I still get an Edison bill?
Yes, a smaller one. Edison still charges the fixed monthly Base Services Charge and bills for any power you use beyond what your panels produce.
How long does it take to get connected?
Most homes go from first call to solar power in 60 to 90 days. The final step is Edison approving the connection, called interconnection.
I rent my home. Can I do this?
The bill swap is for homeowners, because the panels go on your roof under a long-term agreement.
Last updated September 29, 2026. Rates and rules change. Your estimate is based on your own bill.