Will other utilities besides SCE include the Base Services Charge on their monthly bills?
Priority
5
FAQ Answer
Yes, all three of California’s largest investor-owned utilities are required by the CPUC to include the charge on residential customer bills. SCE and San Diego Gas & Electric are implementing the charge in late 2025, and Pacific Gas & Electric plans to implement it in March 2026.
Smartling languages
2
Since Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) agencies are responsible for energy procurement, are CCA customers exempt from any portion of these rate increases related to procuring energy?
Priority
4
FAQ Answer
CCA customers are exempt from rate increases that affect the supply/generation portion of their bill. However, all customers are subject to SCE delivery rate increases whether they are enrolled with a CCA or not. SCE’s delivery charges include all of the main drivers for this specific rate increase to support systemwide reliability for all customers.
Smartling languages
2
Can SCE reschedule these updates to make things easier for customers?
Priority
3
FAQ Answer
Since many projects have lead times of five years or longer, SCE must start work immediately. Our customers are using more electricity, with some adding electric vehicles, battery storage, and heat pumps at home and at work. SCE needs the funding to get the electric grid ready in time to meet rapidly rising customer demand.
Smartling languages
2
Why are the updates happening so close together in time?
Priority
2
FAQ Answer
When the CPUC authorized the Base Services Charge in May 2024, it set late 2025 as the start date.
In contrast, rate updates were intended to take place earlier in 2025 but SCE’s General Rate Case for 2025-2028 wasn’t authorized by the CPUC until Sept. 18, 2025.
Smartling languages
2
Is the rate increase related to what SCE will have to pay for wildfire losses?
Priority
1
FAQ Answer
No. The costs of liability claims related to wildfire losses are not part of SCE’s Oct. 1 rate update. To cover claims payments, SCE would access funds from its self-insurance and the Assembly Bill 1054 state wildfire fund. Costs of infrastructure repair would typically be recovered in a separate CPUC cost-recovery proceeding.
Smartling languages
2
Is the Base Services Charge the reason for SCE’s Oct. 1 rate increase?
Priority
0
FAQ Answer
No, the Base Services Charge is happening due to the passage of California Assembly Bill 205 and is not a rate increase but a bill restructuring applicable to residential customers only. The Oct. 1 rate update applies to all of SCE’s customer segments, including commercial and industrial, agricultural, local governments and others.
The Base Services Charge and the reduced kilowatt-hour cost may result in positive, negative or neutral impacts to monthly bills, depending on energy usage (Refer to charts on Base Services Charge).
Smartling languages
2
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Understanding Updates to Your Electricity Bill
Bill updates in Oct–Nov support grid upgrades, weather resilience & clean energy goals.