SDG&E's winter prices start Sunday, November 1, 26 days away, and run through May 31. On the standard time-of-use plan, 4 to 9pm gets cheaper and every other hour costs more.
What changes on November 1 (TOU-DR1)
| Time of day | Summer | Winter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-peak, 4-9pm every day | 69.1¢ | 61.5¢ | −7.6¢ |
| Off-peak | 46.4¢ | 53.1¢ | +6.7¢ |
| Super off-peak (midnight-6am and 10am-2pm weekdays, midnight-2pm weekends and holidays) | 37.4¢ | 43.7¢ | +6.3¢ |
TOU-DR1 is SDG&E's standard residential plan; "if you're a typical household, you're most likely on this rate." Total price a kWh for SDG&E electricity (not a CCA), above 130% of your baseline. For use within 130% of baseline, take off 10.7¢ in both seasons: winter 50.8¢, 42.4¢ and 33.0¢. Prices effective August 1, 2026.
Why the bill can go up with the AC off
Most of a winter bill is the hours outside 4 to 9pm, and those are the ones that go up: overnight and midday by 6.3¢ a kWh, the rest of off-peak by 6.7¢. The 4 to 9pm penalty also shrinks, from 31.7¢ over the cheapest hours to 17.8¢, so shifting laundry or a space heater to midnight still saves, just less than in summer.
Run your own numbers
Energy charges on TOU-DR1 at the prices above (SDG&E electricity, above 130% of baseline). Your My Account usage chart shows how much you use in each window. Runs on your phone; nothing is sent anywhere.
Price a kWh, summer vs winter (TOU-DR1)
SDG&E TOU-DR1, effective August 1, 2026, above 130% of baseline. Winter runs November 1 to May 31.
The fix: five moves before November 1
- Move the timers. Super off-peak is still the cheapest time in winter (43.7¢ vs 53.1¢ off-peak and 61.5¢ from 4 to 9pm). Start the dishwasher, laundry and pool pump after midnight, or 10am to 2pm on weekdays (before 2pm on weekends).
- Driving electric? On EV-TOU-5, overnight charging is 12.3¢ a kWh this winter, against 43.7¢ at the cheapest hour on TOU-DR1. Compare: EV-TOU-5 vs TOU-DR1.
- Check your plan on your own usage. SDG&E's plan chooser and the comparison in My Account run your real usage through each plan.
- Heating with a space heater? A mini-split makes the same heat on about half the electricity: what it costs and what to check.
- Take every discount you're owed: CARE or FERA and Medical Baseline.
Or hand it to PJ: a winter bill tune-up. He sits with you (or your parent), logs into My Account, runs the plan comparison on your real usage, sets the appliance timers, and checks CARE and FERA. Text PJ. Every option in one place: lower your SDG&E bill.
On the EV plan, winter is cheaper
EV-TOU-5 drops in every window on November 1: 4 to 9pm 80.2¢ to 52.4¢, off-peak 49.6¢ to 46.6¢, and overnight charging 13.1¢ to 12.3¢ a kWh. Which plan fits: EV-TOU-5 vs TOU-DR1.
On the tiered plan (no time of use)
Schedule DR's price is the same all year: 41.3¢ a kWh up to 130% of your baseline and 52.0¢ above it. What changes on November 1 is the baseline allowance itself, which SDG&E sets by climate zone (coastal, inland, mountain, desert), season and whether your home is all-electric. SDG&E's baseline calculator shows yours.
Clean Energy Alliance or San Diego Community Power?
If your power comes from Clean Energy Alliance (Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Oceanside and more) or San Diego Community Power (Encinitas, the City of San Diego and more), SDG&E's part of your bill is delivery, and SDG&E's delivery charges are identical in summer and winter. The seasonal change in the table above is SDG&E's generation price; your provider sets its own, so check its rate page or the generation section of your bill. Clean Energy Alliance customers: the cheaper CEA plan almost nobody picks.
The same every month
The Base Services Charge is $0.79 a day (about $24 a 30-day month), or $0.40 a day with CARE or FERA. Lower the rest: CARE and FERA (up to 35% off if you qualify) · Medical Baseline (a discount when someone at home relies on medical equipment) · the Climate Credit · power today (today's cheapest hours).
Sources: SDG&E Total Rates Tables effective 8/1/2026, TOU-DR1 · EV-TOU-5 · DR; SDG&E pricing plans (time windows); baseline allowance (seasons). Checked October 6, 2026.
Watch: Setting Your Thermostat for Comfort and Savings
U.S. Department of Energy, 1:58. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Need a human?
This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.
Questions people ask
When do SDG&E winter rates start?
November 1. SDG&E's winter season runs November 1 through May 31; summer is June 1 through October 31.
Are SDG&E rates higher in winter?
It depends on the hour. On TOU-DR1, 4 to 9pm drops to 61.5 cents a kWh, but off-peak rises to 53.1 and super off-peak to 43.7 cents (above 130% of baseline), so a home not running AC often pays a little more. On EV-TOU-5, every window is lower in winter.
Why is my SDG&E bill high in November?
Off-peak and super off-peak prices go up on November 1 on the standard TOU-DR1 plan, and those hours are most of a typical bill; space heaters and longer nights add use too.
Does the SDG&E Base Services Charge change in winter?
No. It is $0.79 a day all year, or $0.40 a day with CARE or FERA.
Do winter rates change for Clean Energy Alliance or San Diego Community Power customers?
SDG&E's delivery charges are the same in both seasons. The generation price comes from your provider, which sets its own seasonal rates.
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