"Baseline" refers to a specific amount of energy allocated for residential customers that is charged at a lower price than energy used in excess of that amount. California's regulated energy utilities are mandated to allocate a basic baseline quantity to each residential customer based upon that customer's geographic area, the season, and whether the customer has a single source of energy (i.e., if their home is "all electric"), or a combination of gas and electric ("basic" service). To view geographic areas (or baseline regions) for SCE customers and the amount of baseline allocations for these regions, visit the Baseline Allocation Chart and Baseline Regions Map.
Baseline quantities are established by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and are typically adjusted only when SCE is granted rate adjustments normally associated with a General Rate Case, generally every 3–5 years. The baseline quantity is billed on a daily basis at the lowest residential rate in effect.
Here, you will find additional Baseline information:
Medical Baseline Program
Along with the change from Lifeline to Baseline in 1982, the legislature established a new category of Baseline for customers that required electricity-powered life-support equipment. Called Medical Baseline, the additional allowance of kilowatt hours (kWh) to be charged at the Baseline rate was determined by specific disabilities, and later expanded to include specific diseases.
The link below provides more information about SCE's Medical Baseline Program:
You may download an electronic copy of the Medical Baseline Application in Adobe Acrobat format or request to have a paper copy mailed to you.
Upon application and accepted certification of a medical doctor or osteopath licensed to practice medicine in California, eligible residential customers are provided a standard year-round medical baseline allocation of 16.5 kWh per day in addition to the applicable baseline allocation provided for the season and their baseline region. However, under a "hardship clause," additional medical baseline allocations may be provided.
Eligibility:
- Regular use in the customer's home of one or more medical life-support devices essential to maintain the life of a full-time resident of the household; and/or
- A full-time resident of the household is: a paraplegic, hemiplegic, quadriplegic, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma patient, being treated for life-threatening illness, and/or has a compromised immune system.
Life-support devices are those devices or equipment that utilize mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a vital function, or mechanical equipment relied upon for mobility both within and outside of buildings.
Life-support devices include
- Aerosol Tent
- Pressure Pad
- Apnea Monitor
- Pressure Pump
- Compressor / Concentrator
- Respirator (all types)
- Electronic Nerve Stimulator
- Suction Machine
- Oxygen Generator
- Ultrasonic Nebulizer
- Electrostatic Nebulizer
- Inhalation Pulmonary Pressure
- Breather Machine (IPPB)
- Iron Lung
- Dialysis Machine
- Hemodialysis Machine
- Motorized Wheelchair
Electrical outages, whether caused by nature or other means can occur at any time. Edison is not able to guarantee uninterrupted service to customers. As a result, customers should have back-up plans available at all times in the event of a power outage.
Stage 3 Emergencies - Rotating Outages
In the event that the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) declares a Stage 3 Emergency and requires firm power reduction, SCE will automatically contact medical baseline customers by telephone with a pre-recorded message. Customers who have indicated they have a tolerance of two hours or less to survive without electricity are considered “critical care.” Customers who have been identified as “critical care” will be contacted first, followed by non-critical care medical baseline customers. The phone message warns of the high potential for a rotating outage, and recommends that the necessary precautionary measures be taken to ensure health and welfare should an outage occur. Because SCE may receive as few as 10 minutes notice from the CAISO of a firm power reduction requirement, we will be unable to ensure that medical baseline customers will hear the message before they may be affected by a rotating outage.
TOP
FAQs About Baseline
Q. What is baseline?
A. As intended by state law, baseline refers to a specific amount of energy allocated to residential customers for basic services such as lighting, cooking, heating and refrigeration. Baseline quantities are determined by the CPUC for SCE's average residential electricity consumption in nine geographical regions for southern and central California, for winter and summer seasons. The baseline quantity of kilowatthours (kWhs) is charged on a daily basis at the lowest residential rate available.
Q. Who qualifies for baseline?
A. All residential customer accounts served on a domestic rate schedules.
Q. How can I tell how much baseline allocation I receive each month?
A. Your baseline allocation is provided on page 3 of your bill under the "Additional information" section.
Q. Who determines how much the baseline allocation is?
A. State law directs the CPUC to establish baseline allocations. Baseline quantities were determined as a result of an extensive study of average residential electricity usage across climatic regions adopted by the California Energy Commission as modified by the CPUC. Baseline regions identify climatic areas based on temperature and altitude where electric consumption patterns are similar, and takes into account seasonal variations in energy consumption.
Q. How can I determine what the baseline allocation is in baseline regions and communities other than my own?
A. In October 2009, the CPUC approved SCE’s request to change the number of residential baseline regions from 6 to 9, and re-map the baseline regions to more closely match the California Energy Commisions climate regions, building codes and population. Please review the chart showing baseline allocations for all of SCE's service territory. To learn more about all of SCE's 9 baseline regions, where they are and what communities belong to each region, see the baseline regions map and the index of communities.
TOP
Q. Why does baseline cover 50–70% of the average residential use in a baseline region?
A. Baseline was never intended to cover 100% of average residential use, but rather to provide a significant portion of the reasonable energy needs to be charged at the lowest rate, and to encourage conservation of energy.
The CPUC established that the baseline quantities be allocated at 50% to 60% of average residential consumption for basic services such as lighting, cooking, heating and refrigeration, except for residential gas and all-electric residential customers, the baseline quantity is established at 60% to 70% of the average residential consumption during the winter heating season.
Q. Why does Baseline Region 15 receive so much more summer baseline allocation?
A. In SCE's 1985 General Rate Case, the CPUC adopted a proposal from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, establishing a higher baseline quantity during the summer season due to the extreme heat experienced in that region.
Q. How often are baseline quantities adjusted?
A. The CPUC reviews baseline quantities generally every 3–5 years, during the utilities' rate case proceedings. The CPUC does hold public participation hearings as part of the proceedings to afford consumers the opportunity to voice their concerns. Notification of public hearings are included on your bill when a utility rate case is being considered.
Q. What if a bill was estimated….will baseline still be applied?
A. Yes. All estimated bills automatically include the full amount of the baseline allocation for the account.
TOP
Q. If one customer uses more energy than a neighbor because there are more people or the home is bigger, shouldn't they get more baseline?
A. Baseline was purposefully established based on the average residential consumption within climatic regions, with variations during the winter and summer seasons. Because the baseline allocations were set at the average, it takes into account the variety of differences in family size, appliances, etc.
Q. Doesn't baseline punish residential customers for using more electricity?
A. The legislature intended that the baseline allocations provide from 50% to 70% of the average residential use within a climatic region during the summer and the winter seasons. It is the intent of baseline to encourage conservation and reward customers for conserving with a portion of their electricity charged at the lowest rate.
Q. What about people who need life support equipment?
A. Qualifying customers dependent on electrically-operated life-support equipment receive additional allowances. If a residential customer provides certification from a medical doctor or osteopath (on SCE's Medical Baseline form) that a full-time resident of the household requires the regular use of an electrically-operated, medical life-support device essential to sustain, restore or supplant a vital function, or mechanical equipment which is relied upon for mobility both within and outside of buildings, they are eligible to receive a standard year-round medical baseline allocation of 16.5 kWh per day in addition to the standard baseline allocation. Customers with life-support devices that require more than the standard daily medical baseline allocation may apply for a higher allocation.
Q. How will medical baseline and critical care customers be notified in case of rotating outages?
A. In the event the California Independent System Operator (CA- ISO) declares a Stage 3 Emergency and calls for firm load reduction, SCE will implement its autodialer system to notify its medical baseline customers for which it has a telephone number. The notification is made first to customers identified as critical care, then to the remaining medical baseline customers. The notification is a pre-recorded, 30-second message warning of the Stage 3 Emergency and to be prepared for a rotating outage. Customer account and telephone numbers are updated to the autodialer list on a weekly basis.
Q. What can I do to change baseline and get more allocation at the lowest rate?
A. During rate case proceedings, the CPUC does review baseline, along with other consumer programs, to determine if changes should be made. The CPUC also holds public participation hearings so consumers will have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. Notification of hearings are included on the customer bill. The CPUC also posts hearings dates and locations on their Web site: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/
TOP