What your Southern California Edison contract says

In short

This is a residential electricity service agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the largest electric utilities in the country serving roughly 5 million customer accounts across central, coastal, and Southern California. SCE delivers electricity to your home, and you pay a monthly bill based on your usage and the rate plan you're on. Like PG&E, SCE's rates are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which means rate changes go through a formal approval process (but they still happen regularly). SCE offers tiered and time-of-use rate plans, and you can choose which one works best for your household. If you have solar panels, net metering lets you get credit for excess power you send back to the grid.

What you agree to do

• You must pay your electric bill by the due date printed on your monthly statement.
• You must provide safe, unobstructed access to your electric meter for reading and maintenance.
• You must not tamper with, bypass, or interfere with the electric meter or SCE equipment.
• You must notify SCE if you install solar panels, batteries, or other generation equipment on your property.

What you can ask for

• You can switch between rate plans (tiered, time-of-use, or EV plan) to find the one that best fits your usage.
• You can apply for the CARE or FERA discount programs if your household income qualifies (this can reduce your bill by 30-35%).
• You can request a payment arrangement or extension if you're struggling to pay your bill.

Points worth knowing

• Rate increases approved by CPUCSCE regularly files General Rate Cases with the CPUC requesting higher rates. These increases are typically approved in some form, and your bill can rise substantially (SCE rates have increased more than 40% over the past five years).
• Disconnection for non-paymentIf you fall behind on your bill, SCE can disconnect your electricity after providing a 15-day notice. California law offers extra protections during extreme heat (above 100°F) and for medically vulnerable customers.
• Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)During high wildfire-risk conditions, SCE can proactively shut off power to your area. These shutoffs can last 24-48 hours or longer, and SCE is not liable for spoiled food, lost wages, or other damages.
• Estimated billing when meter is inaccessibleIf SCE cannot access your meter, they will estimate your usage. Estimated bills can be significantly higher or lower than actual usage, creating billing surprises.
• Net metering policy changesIf you have solar, changes to California's net metering rules (like the NEM 3.0 transition) can significantly reduce the credit you receive for excess power sent to the grid.

Dates and deadlines

Monthly billing cycle

Bill arrives monthly, payment due within 19 days of the statement date

Disconnection notice period

15 days after a past-due notice before service can be disconnected

CARE/FERA recertification

Every 2 years you must recertify your income eligibility for discount programs