Compare peak Time-of-Use (TOU) import tariffs, avoided-cost wholesale export credits, and battery storage payback periods across California's major investor-owned utilities.
Click any utility to open the dedicated pre-hydrated decision calculator.
| Utility Territory | Tariff Schedule | Peak Rate (4-9pm) | Off-Peak Rate | NEM 3.0 Export Credit | Fixed Monthly Fee | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) | E-ELEC / Solar Billing Plan | $0.58/kWh | $0.28/kWh | ~$0.05/kWh | $15.00/mo | Calculate |
| Southern California Edison (SCE) | TOU-D-PRIME | $0.54/kWh | $0.24/kWh | ~$0.04/kWh | $12.00/mo | Calculate |
| San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) | EV-TOU-5 | $0.72/kWh | $0.31/kWh | ~$0.06/kWh | $16.00/mo | Calculate |
| Florida Power & Light (FPL) | RTR-1 Residential TOU | $0.22/kWh | $0.09/kWh | ~$0.04/kWh | $10.50/mo | Calculate |
| Oncor Electric Delivery (Texas) | ERCOT Retail Market Free Choice | $0.19/kWh | $0.11/kWh | ~$0.04/kWh | $4.50/mo | Calculate |
| Consolidated Edison (ConEd NY) | SC-1 Rate III Voluntary TOU | $0.38/kWh | $0.16/kWh | ~$0.07/kWh | $18.50/mo | Calculate |
| Arizona Public Service (APS) | Time-of-Use 4pm-7pm Weekdays | $0.31/kWh | $0.12/kWh | ~$0.03/kWh | $13.00/mo | Calculate |
| Hawaiian Electric (HECO) | Smart Renewable Energy | $0.49/kWh | $0.29/kWh | ~$0.12/kWh | $14.00/mo | Calculate |
In April 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) instituted the Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0), replacing 1-to-1 retail net metering with the Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) valuation. Under NEM 3.0, daytime solar electricity exported to the grid is credited at wholesale avoided cost (~$0.04 to $0.06/kWh), while power consumed during the 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM peak window costs $0.54 to $0.62/kWh.
This pricing structure makes pairing solar arrays with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery storage essential. By storing solar energy generated during midday and discharging it between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM, homeowners avoid the highest utility rates in the country, shortening the battery payback period to 5.5–7.5 years under the 30% Federal Section 25D Clean Energy Tax Credit.