EV-TOU-5 can fit a San Diego home when most charging happens during super off-peak hours. It isn’t automatically the cheapest choice for every household. This page is the should-you-switch comparison; for the current published cents-per-kilowatt-hour figures, read our SDG&E EV-TOU-5 rate update. Your charging schedule, afternoon electricity use, CCA status, solar, and battery behavior all affect the comparison.
Start with the current SDG&E tariff, not an old rate table
The current approved figures come from SDG&E’s residential electric vehicle plan page. They apply to bundled residential customers and took effect August 1, 2026.
| Period | Time window | Bundled residential rate |
|---|---|---|
| Super off-peak | Weekdays 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; weekends 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 13.1¢/kWh |
| Off-peak | Weekdays 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.; weekends 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. | 49.6¢/kWh |
| On-peak | Every day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 80.2¢/kWh |
The on-peak rate is about six times the super off-peak rate. That spread makes charging time central to any EV-TOU-5 SDG&E comparison.
These figures exclude the residential Base Services Charge introduced in October 2025. The EV plan page doesn’t publish that charge’s amount. Confirm it directly with SDG&E before comparing complete bills.
The table also doesn’t describe every Community Choice Aggregation account. CCA customers pay SDG&E delivery charges plus generation billed by their CCA. At the same effective date, the published CCA delivery rates were 4.7¢/kWh during super off-peak and 31.8¢/kWh during on-peak. A complete CCA comparison still needs the current generation rate.
Old screenshots and search snippets can preserve retired prices. Start with the official SDG&E electric vehicle plans page, then check its effective date.
How charging time changes the comparison
EV-TOU-5 rewards a schedule that consistently reaches the super off-peak window. Charging during the broader off-peak period costs more under the current schedule. Charging from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. uses the highest listed rate.
Consider the approved comparison for a 40-amp Level 2 charger. Its continuous draw is about 7.7 kW. Running it for nine hours per week produces this arithmetic:
- 7.7 kW × 9 hours per week × 52 weeks is about 3,600 kWh yearly.
- At 13.1¢/kWh, that energy costs about $470 yearly.
- At 80.2¢/kWh, the same energy costs about $2,880 yearly.
- The difference is about $2,400 yearly.
This isn’t a forecast for your bill. It’s a controlled comparison using the same charger and yearly energy at two verified rates. It excludes the Base Services Charge and other household use.
Your actual pattern matters more than the charger’s maximum rating. A car plugged in after an evening commute could wait until midnight for super off-peak charging. A 9:30 p.m. start falls in off-peak hours, not super off-peak hours. A car parked at home can also use the weekday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window.
Check whether your vehicle or charging equipment provides scheduled charging. Then compare the available window with the energy needed before the next drive. Our Level 2 charger installation service can connect you with a licensed local pro when the home’s electrical setup also needs review.
What to check before changing a household rate plan
EV-TOU-5 applies to the whole household bill, not only the charger. Review when the home uses electricity before focusing on the car.
Start with the 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. window. Cooking, cooling, laundry, pool equipment, and other loads can overlap that period. Don’t assign a guessed cost to those loads. Use your own bills, equipment schedules, and household routine.
Next, identify the generation provider shown on the bill. A Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, or Solana Beach account may receive generation through Clean Energy Alliance. City of San Diego and Chula Vista accounts may receive generation through San Diego Community Power. Both CCAs supply generation, while SDG&E delivers electricity and handles billing.
The CCA distinction changes the math. The bundled rate table shouldn’t be copied onto a CCA account as its total electricity price. Check the CCA’s current generation charges alongside SDG&E’s delivery charges.
Also ask SDG&E to confirm current eligibility and any plan-change terms. Those details couldn’t be confirmed from the approved claims ledger, so they shouldn’t be guessed. Confirm the current Base Services Charge at the same time.
A rate-plan decision and an electrical project are separate choices. The plan can affect operating costs, while the home determines what charging equipment it can support. A licensed electrician can review the existing panel and load under NEC 220.87. Our San Diego EV charger installation cost guide explains the project questions to raise before requesting a written quote.
How solar and battery use can change the math
Solar and battery systems add another layer because the EV rate table only shows specified electricity prices. It doesn’t establish the value of exported solar, a household’s battery settings, or every CCA generation charge.
Start with the car’s location during daylight hours. EV-TOU-5 includes a weekday super off-peak period from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If the car is home, that window may become part of the charging plan. The exact bill result depends on how the home’s solar production, household demand, and utility billing interact.
A battery also changes which hours need attention. Record when it charges, when it serves household loads, and whether EV charging competes with other planned battery use. Don’t assume the battery automatically turns the lowest listed grid price into the lowest total household cost.
The evening window deserves close review. Every day from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. carries the current on-peak rate. A household might want the battery reserved for evening loads, while the EV waits for midnight. Another home may need the car ready earlier. Neither schedule is universally correct.
CCA customers need an additional check. San Diego Community Power and Clean Energy Alliance set their own generation rates. Those rates can change independently from SDG&E delivery charges. Ask the current provider how imported energy, exported solar, and battery activity appear on the account.
Build the comparison from one real bill at a time. Separate EV charging from other household use where your records allow it. Then compare actual hours against the verified schedule.
Where to confirm current prices and eligibility
Use SDG&E’s own EV plan page before making the switch. Check the effective date, all three time windows, and whether the displayed rates describe bundled or CCA service. A search result can repeat an outdated table without showing that it has expired.
Then review the current bill. Confirm these items directly with SDG&E or the listed CCA:
- Whether the account is bundled or receives CCA generation
- The current generation and delivery charges
- The current Base Services Charge
- EV-TOU-5 eligibility for the specific account
- Any current terms for changing plans
- How solar exports and battery activity are treated
The approved source doesn’t publish the Base Services Charge amount on its EV plan page. It also doesn’t confirm every eligibility or switching rule needed for an individual account. Those gaps require a current answer from SDG&E, not an estimate.
Rebates are a separate question from electricity rates. Our SDG&E EV charger rebate guide can help identify what to ask, but confirm current availability and eligibility with the program authority before making a purchase.
Keep a copy of the rate page and its effective date when you compare plans. Use the same charging amount in each scenario. Include the household’s evening use, CCA generation, and any solar or battery behavior. That produces a more useful comparison than looking at the super off-peak price alone.
When to call us
Changing a utility rate plan doesn’t require an electrician. New charging equipment, altered wiring, or panel work should go to a licensed pro who can review the actual home. Call us at (858) 988-5580 and we’ll connect you with a licensed local electrician.