What is the California Climate Credit?

The California Climate Credit is an automatic bill credit provided by the state of California to combat climate change. It's available to both residential and small business customers.

This credit is intended to assist utility customers in transitioning to a low-carbon future. When the California Climate Credit shows up on your bill, your bill will be lower than usual.  

What is changing this year (2026)?  

To make bills more affordable when electricity use is typically higher, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has directed California’s three large utilities (SCE, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric) to deliver the California Climate Credit for residential customers later this year when your monthly bill may be at its highest due to increased electricity use in warm weather.  

What to Expect (2026)

• In 2026, your usual April Climate Credit will instead be applied later this year during high-billed months to provide greater relief on your bill when you need it most.  
• You will receive a $72 credit, which may come in a single payment or be split across high-billed months.  
• No action is required. The credit will be automatically applied to your residential bill.

How will the California Climate Credit impact my bill?

As a valued SCE customer, staying informed about your billing cycle projected costs and any credits or adjustments that may affect your monthly bill is essential. Below is a guide to help you easily interpret your bill projections.

Reviewing Bill Projections

When reviewing your bill projections for months in which you receive a California Climate Credit, remember that the Projected Next Bill (PNB) cost projections will likely be lower due to the California Climate Credit applied during that cycle.

It's important to note that in some cases, your usage as-of-date cost will display higher than your Projected Bill. That is due to the climate credit applying only to your Projected Bill cost, not your Usage as-of-date cost. SCE is aware of this discrepancy and is working to resolve the variance. However, SCE can confirm that the climate credit will be applied to all applicable accounts once your bill period has ended.

How Much is the Credit?

For more information about the credit amount, visit CPUC's Climate Credit Page or CPUC's Small Business Climate Credit Page.

When to Expect Normalization

Customers can anticipate the bill projections will normalize starting the month after receiving the California Climate Credit. For instance, if you receive a California Climate Credit in August, your bill will normalize in September's billing period.

More ways to help manage your electricity costs  

SCE offers a variety of other ways to help you lower your bill and manage monthly costs.  

• Monthly Bill Discounts for Qualifying Customers  
• Bill Credits for Conserving Electricity on Hot Days  
• Lower Cost Rate Plans  
• Help Managing Monthly Bills  
• Bill Assistance Programs

Last year, 1.9 million customers used these resources for a combined savings of approximately $1 billion on their bills. Whether it’s choosing the right rate plan, enrolling in discount programs, or spreading costs more evenly throughout the year, we’re here to help.

Explore ways to help manage your costs here.