These charges cover the cost for infrastructure needed to deliver the electricity you use in your home. This charge is based on how much energy you consume, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). After November 2025, you may see total electricity prices lowered per kilowatt-hour (kWh). *

* Estimate is based on current electricity rates as of June 1, 2025, and does not assume future rate changes.

Beginning in November 2025, electricity bills will be restructured for residential customers. The electric delivery section of the bill will include a Base Services Charge as a separate line item, replacing the current Basic Charge. Customers may see total electricity prices lowered per kilowatt-hour (kWh)* for electricity usage.

* Estimate is based on current electricity rates as of June 1, 2025, and does not assume future rate changes."

This change becomes effective in November of 2025. The charge will appear on your bill as “Base Services Charge” under the “Delivery Charges” section of your bill.

In June 2022, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 205, mandating that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and electric utilities change the way residential customers’ electric bills are structured. The intent of AB 205 is to encourage electrification and make electric rates more affordable.

The Base Services Charge is designed by the state to cover the costs connecting each customer to the electric grid and providing state programs to assist income-qualified customers.

The Base Services Charge is not a new fee or tax, but rather a change in how electric bills are structured. Currently, both fixed costs and electricity usage costs are combined into energy usage charges on bills for residential customers. The new law (Assembly Bill 205) requires costs to be separated into a Base Services Charge to cover the cost of certain electrical equipment and services, and variable electricity delivery charges based on the electricity the customer uses during their billing period. This means that instead of paying for certain infrastructure costs through the variable electricity rate, customers will pay these costs through a standard fee, regardless of how much electricity they use.

Residential customers* including homeowners, renters, and solar customers will have a Base Services Charge on their bill. The charge amount will vary because some customers who are enrolled in income qualified programs like California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) or who live in qualifying housing property knows as deed-restricted affordable housing** are eligible for a discounted Base Services Charge amount.

* The Domestic Multifamily Accommodation rate (Schedule DM) is exempt from the Base Services Charge. These customers will continue to pay the Basic Charge. 
** Deed-restricted affordable housing properties are identified by the California Housing Partnership and defined as an affordable rental home that is restricted by the rules of state or federal subsidies to residents who have incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. For more information, visit chpc.net. 

The exact monthly amount of your Base Services Charge depends on the number of days in your billing cycle.

• $6.00 per month for CARE-enrolled customers, assessed via an approximate daily charge of $0.20
• $12.08 per month for FERA-enrolled customers and those in qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing*, assessed via an approximate daily charge of $0.40
• $24.15 per month for customers not enrolled in any of these programs, assessed via an approximate daily charge of $0.80

To calculate your new Base Services Charge per month, multiply the applicable daily charge by the number of days in your billing period.

* Deed-restricted affordable housing properties are identified by the California Housing Partnership and defined as an affordable rental home that is restricted by the rules of state or federal subsidies to residents who have incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Media Income. For more information, visit chpc.net. chpc.net.

Prior to the implementation of the Base Services Charge, which will begin in November 2025, the costs of maintaining the electric grid have been included in the variable energy delivery charges on customers’ bills. With the restructuring, the costs of things like meters and other equipment, which keep your home connected to the electric grid, will be separated from the variable electricity charges. These costs will now be covered primarily by the Base Services Charge, which will be a set daily charge on residential customer bills each month. 

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) sets the statewide Base Services Charge amount and determines whether to make any changes to it. However, the Base Services Charge amount has been set by the CPUC, with no indication as to if or when the charge may change. The Base Services Charge is converted to a daily charge to collect the total amount across the average month. Thus, your Base Services Charge total may vary slightly depending on the number of days in your billing cycle, but you will not be charged more or less in total across the year.

Yes, these variable charges can change throughout the year as approved by the CPUC. However, the new Base Services Charge may reduce the variable cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) by approximately 10%*.

* Estimate is based on current electricity rates as of June 1, 2025, and does not assume future rate changes.

The Base Services Charge will be approximately $24 per month for master-metered customers and covers essential costs to maintain the infrastructure which keeps the property connected to the electric grid. Sub-metered tenants will also pay approximately $24 per month, but tenants enrolled in CARE, FERA, or living in qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing receive a discounted Base Services Charge Adjustment.

The Base Services Charge Adjustment amounts will be listed on the master-metered bill for the applicable program enrollments based on unit totals. CARE and FERA tenants will continue to receive their current discounted rates, as well as the discounted Base Services Charge Adjustment. The master meter is responsible to apply the correct Base Services Charge Adjustment to each sub-metered bill, based on the tenant’s enrollment in CARE, FERA, and/or living in qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing.

The Base Services Charge may cause your bill to increase or decrease compared to a bill without the Base Services Charge. Generally, the lower volumetric charges per kilowatt-hour (kWh) will help offset the Base Services Charge, but is dependent on a  customer's specific level of usage. Customers with higher-than-average usage may see a bill decrease, while customers with lower-than-average usage, who are not on income-qualified program, may see a bill increase. 

This change will not impact participation in your current rate plan (e.g. Time-of-Use or Tiered) or any other programs or discounts you receive, like Medical Baseline Allowance, California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE), or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA).

Your Base Services Charge is not based on your energy use and cannot be lowered by reducing your energy consumption. Customers cannot opt out of paying the Base Services Charge. Residential homes are connected to the grid and require the necessary infrastructure to receive power. You can find out if you’re eligible for an income-qualified discount such as California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) to see if you qualify for a lower Base Services Charge. Visit sce.com/assistance.

You can visit sce.com/assistance to learn about ways to lower your energy usage or see if you qualify for income-based discount programs such as California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA). You can also see if you qualify for free energy-efficient appliances through our Energy Saving Assistance (ESA) program at sce.com/esa.

These structural changes reduce the price SCE residential customers will pay for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity that they use. Separating the energy charges from the fixed charges can help keep bill amounts more predictable month-to-month.

Utilities will not earn more profit from the Base Services Charge. They will continue to receive the same amount of compensation as they currently do for the investment they make in operating and maintaining the electric grid.

Residential customers may pay less for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity that they use. This rate reduction per kWh will lower the cost of using energy and help accelerate the state’s transition to 100% clean electricity.

Yes. The Base Services Charge is separate from electricity usage and represents each customer account’s share of supporting the ongoing operation and upkeep of the electric grid in SCE’s service area. This is no different from the Basic Charge.

The Climate Credit is not affected by the Base Services Charge.

For more information about California Assembly Bill 205, you can view the Fact Sheet.

Energy conservation is still important, primarily at specific times of day. Conservation becomes more important when solar production starts declining, generally around 4 p.m.

Electrification allows customers to power their vehicles and equipment on a cleaner energy source. In addition, electricity is frequently a less costly source of fuel for the customer.

SCE works with customers affected by major disasters to assist them in recovery by providing payment arrangements as necessary, assisting with establishing service at temporary locations, ensuring our income-eligible customers receive necessary support information, and expediting rebuilding with a dedicated Service Planning team. Find more information about Disaster Support at sce.com/disastersupport.

No, the Base Services Charge was authorized in June 2022 through California Assembly Bill 205.

Yes, the Base Services Charge applies to residential customers that are connected to SCE’s delivery system.

Residential customers, including solar customers, will pay a Base Services Charge. Solar customers are still connected to the grid and require the infrastructure, meters, and other equipment needed to maintain it.
 

Your net electricity usage cost still depends on how much energy you produce and use. 

The Base Services Charge is payable each month, even for customers with Net Energy Metering (NEM) or Solar Billing Plan (SBP), regardless of energy usage. 

Customers on the Solar Billing Plan, operating on a master meter, or with less than five months of continuous usage are not eligible to use the Rate Plan Comparison Tool.

Customers on the Solar Billing Plan, operating on a master meter, or with less than five months of continuous usage are not eligible to use the Rate Plan Comparison Tool.