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What is SDG&E's Base Services Charge, and do solar homes pay it?

Last reviewed November 4, 2026. Sources at the end.

It is a daily charge for being connected to the grid. Yes, solar homes pay it too. SDG&E says the Base Services Charge is not eligible to be offset by export credits$0.79343SDG&E daily Base Services ChargeSDG&E charges every home about 79¢ a day for grid upkeep. Solar credits cannot pay it.SDG&E, Schedule EV-TOU-5 Total Rates Table (eff. 8/1/26); SDG&E Base Services Charge pageOther Charges/Discounts, Base Services Charge ($/Day)Verified Oct 9, 2026.

1. What is the Base Services Charge?

The Base Services Charge is the flat part of the electric bill. It is not tied to how many kWh you use that day. SDG&E lists it as $0.79343 a day$0.79343SDG&E daily Base Services ChargeSDG&E charges every home about 79¢ a day for grid upkeep. Solar credits cannot pay it.SDG&E, Schedule EV-TOU-5 Total Rates Table (eff. 8/1/26); SDG&E Base Services Charge pageOther Charges/Discounts, Base Services Charge ($/Day)Verified Oct 9, 2026 for most homes on its solar plan.

The CPUC approved a statewide flat charge for investor-owned utilities. CPUC says the flat rate for most homes is $24.15 per month$24.15Monthly Base Services Charge for most homesMost homes now pay a flat charge of about $24 a month for grid upkeep. Solar homes pay it too.CPUC press release on D.24-05-028 (May 9, 2024); D.24-05-028 as voted; SDG&E and SCE billing pagesUnder the new billing structureVerified Oct 9, 2026. SDG&E bills it each day, so the exact monthly total changes with the number of days in the billing cycle.

2. Do SDG&E solar homes pay it?

Yes. SDG&E says all residential customers, including solar customers, must pay the Base Services Charge. It is a non-nettable charge. Plain English: solar credits cannot erase it.

That is why a solar home can still have a bill even in a month with extra solar credits. CPUC says Net Billing Tariff customers pay their bill every monthPay monthly, settle up once a yearHow often solar homes pay their billYou get and pay a bill each month. Unused credits carry forward until your yearly true-up.CPUC, Net Energy Metering and Net Billing pageNet Billing section, Monthly bill payment; comparison table, Billing and true-up period rowVerified Oct 9, 2026. Extra credits can roll forward until the yearly true-up, but they do not wipe out every line on the bill.

3. What does solar credit pay instead?

Solar credits pay for exported power. CPUC says extra power sent to the grid is credited at values from the Avoided Cost Calculator. Those values change by hour and season. They are usually lower than the retail priceExport credits use the CPUC Avoided Cost Calculator. They are usually below the retail price.How extra solar power is creditedPower you send back earns a credit set by the state. It is usually worth less than power you buy, except some summer evenings.CPUC, Net Energy Metering and Net Billing page; CPUC D.22-12-056Net Billing sectionVerified Oct 9, 2026.

SDG&E puts Solar Billing Plan customers on EV-TOU-5EV-TOU-5SDG&E rate plan for solar homesSDG&E puts solar homes on the EV-TOU-5 plan.SDG&E, Solar Billing Plan pageSolar Pricing Plan for Residential CustomersVerified Oct 9, 2026. On that plan, the power you buy, the power you send back and the fixed charge are separate parts of the bill. A strong export month can help with energy charges, but SDG&E still bills the base charge.

4. Are there lower Base Services Charges?

Yes. CPUC set lower amounts for some income programs. CARE customers pay $6.00 per monthCARE $6.00 a month. FERA $12.08 a month.Lower monthly charge for income-qualified homesHomes on CARE pay about $6 a month. Homes on FERA pay about $12.CPUC D.24-05-028 as voted (Rev. 1 PD), Conclusions of LawConclusion of Law listing fixed charge levels, p.151Verified Oct 9, 2026. FERA customers and residents of qualifying deed-restricted affordable housing pay $12.08 per monthCARE $6.00 a month. FERA $12.08 a month.Lower monthly charge for income-qualified homesHomes on CARE pay about $6 a month. Homes on FERA pay about $12.CPUC D.24-05-028 as voted (Rev. 1 PD), Conclusions of LawConclusion of Law listing fixed charge levels, p.151Verified Oct 9, 2026.

Those lower charges are still fixed charges. The same simple rule applies: solar credits are for energy on the bill. The Base Services Charge is separate.

Sources.

  1. SDG&E, Schedule EV-TOU-5 Total Rates Table (eff. 8/1/26); SDG&E Base Services Charge page, checked October 2026.
  2. CPUC press release on D.24-05-028 (May 9, 2024); D.24-05-028 as voted; SDG&E and SCE billing pages, checked October 2026.
  3. CPUC D.24-05-028 as voted (Rev. 1 PD), Conclusions of Law, checked October 2026.
  4. SDG&E, Solar Billing Plan page, checked October 2026.
  5. CPUC, Net Energy Metering and Net Billing page, checked October 2026.