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LADWP vs SCE bill estimator
Updated August 5, 2026 · tariffs verified August 4, 2026 · by Cali Energy
Is LADWP cheaper than SCE in 2026? Usually yes. In an illustrative 750 kWh summer comparison (Zone 2, SCE Baseline Region 10, 31 billing days, 20% of use in the 4–9 p.m. window, $7.90 Power Access Charge), LADWP runs about $221 versus about $251 on SCE before local tax — roughly 14% more on SCE. The gap shifts with usage, load timing, LADWP zone and SCE baseline region.
✓ Built on LADWP’s and SCE’s own published 2026 tariffs — not estimates we made up. See every rate it uses and verify the sources ↓
Cali Energy calculation · 2026 tariffs, verified Aug 4, 2026 · illustrative, not a quote
Power Access Charge: LADWP sets this from the highest usage tier you reached in the prior 12 months, not this month’s usage — check the figure printed on your current LADWP bill and pick the matching tier above. Comparison is shown before local taxes for parity (the LADWP card also shows its 10% City of LA tax in its own line). SCE model: baseline allocation = region daily × billing days (credited at 10¢/kWh); Base Services Charge $0.79/day. Summer 4–9 p.m. uses a weekday/weekend blended rate — 58¢ weekday On-Peak and 46¢ weekend Mid-Peak — with the rest at 34¢ Off-Peak. In winter, 4–9 p.m. is 51¢ Mid-Peak and the remaining usage is split between 37¢ Off-Peak and 33¢ Super-Off-Peak by the hours in each period. Excludes the semiannual California Climate Credit ($36 in Aug & Sep 2026 for eligible SCE customers), one-time adjustments, arrears, and local Utility Users Tax (which some SCE cities levy and some don’t). Estimates are not quotes or guarantees; tariffs change — verify current rates with the utility.
The rates and figures this calculator usestap to verify
Nothing here is invented. The calculator runs on LADWP’s and SCE’s own published 2026 residential tariffs. Here is every rate and figure it uses — each table links to the official document so you can check any number yourself.
| Energy — summer, per kWh (Tier 1 / 2 / 3) | 26.41¢ / 32.27¢ / 40.97¢ |
| Energy — winter, per kWh (Tier 1 / Tier 2+) | 24.77¢ / 30.63¢ |
| Power Access Charge, monthly (by top tier reached) | $2.30 / $7.90 / $22.70 |
| Tier boundaries — Zone 1 (kWh/mo) | Tier 1 to 350, Tier 2 to 1,050 |
| Tier boundaries — Zone 2 (kWh/mo) | Tier 1 to 500, Tier 2 to 1,500 |
| City of Los Angeles utility tax | 10% |
| Minimum monthly bill | $10 |
| Summer On-Peak — 4–9 p.m. weekdays, per kWh | 58¢ |
| Summer Mid-Peak — 4–9 p.m. weekends/holidays, per kWh | 46¢ |
| Summer Off-Peak — all other hours, per kWh | 34¢ |
| Winter Mid-Peak — 4–9 p.m. daily, per kWh | 51¢ |
| Winter Off-Peak — 9 p.m.–8 a.m., per kWh | 37¢ |
| Winter Super-Off-Peak — 8 a.m.–4 p.m., per kWh | 33¢ |
| Baseline credit, per kWh up to allocation | −10¢ |
| Base Services Charge, per day | $0.79 |
| Baseline allocation (kWh/day) | Varies by region, 11.4–45 |
Rates verified against the utilities’ published 2026 tariffs. Utilities file rate changes with the CPUC (SCE) and the LA Board of Water and Power Commissioners (LADWP), so figures can move mid-year — if a number here differs from your bill, open the linked tariff above for the current value.
Example results you can reproduce
Each row below uses the same inputs — LADWP Zone 2, SCE Baseline Region 10, 31 billing days, 20% of use in the 4–9 p.m. window and a $7.90 Power Access Charge — with both utilities shown before local taxes. Enter the same values in the calculator above to reproduce these figures exactly.
| Scenario | LADWP | SCE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh, summer | $139.95 | $165.06 | SCE +$25.11 (18%) |
| 750 kWh, summer | $220.63 | $250.52 | SCE +$29.89 (14%) |
| 1,000 kWh, winter | $284.90 | $349.19 | SCE +$64.29 (23%) |
How this calculator works
The LADWP side uses the 2026 R-1A tier rates for your zone and season, adds the Power Access Charge, and applies the 10% City of LA electricity tax. The SCE side models the TOU-D-4-9PM plan by season. In summer it prices the 4–9 p.m. share you set at a blended weekday/weekend rate (58¢ weekdays, 46¢ weekends) and the rest at 34¢ off-peak. In winter — when SCE has no on-peak — the 4–9 p.m. window is Mid-Peak (51¢) and the remaining usage is split between Off-Peak (37¢) and Super-Off-Peak (33¢) in proportion to the hours in each period. Both seasons then subtract the 10¢/kWh baseline credit for your region and add the $0.79/day Base Services Charge. The comparison line is shown before local taxes for parity. These are Cali Energy calculations from SCE’s and LADWP’s published 2026 tariffs — an estimate, not a quote.
How to read your result
You get two cards — LADWP and SCE — each broken into energy, fixed charges and (for LADWP) tax, with a total. The line beneath compares the two before local taxes and shows the gap in dollars and percent. If that percentage looks different from a number you saw elsewhere, that’s expected: the gap moves with your usage, zone, season, SCE baseline region and peak-hour share, so a single “X% cheaper” figure is rarely meaningful without those inputs.
What moves the result the most
Three things dominate: how much of your usage falls in the 4–9 p.m. window (the share slider — that’s SCE’s priciest period, On-Peak in summer and Mid-Peak in winter), your SCE baseline region (hot desert regions get a larger low-cost allowance), and your LADWP zone and tier. Summer pushes both utilities higher — LADWP through its Tier 3 premium and SCE through summer peak rates; winter is milder on both, and SCE’s cheap Super-Off-Peak (8 a.m.–4 p.m.) helps daytime users.
Common questions
What do I need to use this calculator?
Your average monthly kWh (from a recent bill), your LADWP zone (printed on the bill) or SCE plan, and roughly how much of your power you use during the 4–9 p.m. peak.
Is LADWP always cheaper than SCE?
No. It’s usually cheaper, but for a low-usage home in one of SCE’s hot desert baseline regions the gap can nearly close. Enter your numbers to see your specific case.
Why is SCE more expensive?
SCE prices most homes on time-of-use plans with high evening peak rates (up to 58–74¢/kWh) and carries wildfire and grid costs in its rates. LADWP is a city-owned municipal utility with lower, mostly flat retail rates.
Does it include taxes and fees?
The LADWP result includes the Power Access Charge and the 10% City of LA tax. The head-to-head comparison is shown before local taxes so both utilities are measured the same way, and it excludes the semiannual California Climate Credit and any local SCE utility-users tax.
Is this my exact bill?
No — it’s an estimate from published 2026 tariffs, not a bill or a quote. Your real bill depends on your exact rate schedule, the number of billing days and any credits on your account.
Which LADWP zone am I in?
It’s printed on your LADWP bill. Zone 1 is cooler coastal and western areas; Zone 2 is hotter inland areas and gets a larger Tier 1 allowance.
How do I find my SCE baseline region?
Look it up by address on SCE’s Index of Communities, or check the baseline allocation printed on your SCE bill. The region sets how many kWh get the baseline credit.
Can solar or a battery change the answer?
Yes — net-metering rules differ sharply between LADWP (full retail credit) and SCE (net billing), which can matter more than the base rate. Use our battery-sizing and solar-payback tools to explore that.
Sources
- LADWP — Residential Rates
- LADWP — Adjustment Billing Factors
- SCE — Time-of-Use Plans
- UCLA Law — Cost & Carbon of Competing Utility Models
Estimates only, not a quote. Assumptions, rates, incentives and program rules can change — confirm current details with your utility, the program administrator or a licensed professional.
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