Side by side (CA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southern California Edison (SCE) | Imperial Irrigation District |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 32.43 | 17.91 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 32.34 | 17.58 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $3,502 | $1,935 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 3,219,520 | 142,078 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Public district |
| Counties served in CA | 16 | 3 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southern California Edison (SCE) · Imperial Irrigation District · California overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Imperial · Riverside · San Diego counties (CA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Southern California Edison (SCE) and Imperial Irrigation District do not compete for the same meters. California is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (cpuc.ca.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Southern California Edison (SCE) cheaper than Imperial Irrigation District?
- No — in 2024 Southern California Edison (SCE) customers averaged 32.43 cents/kWh versus 17.91 for Imperial Irrigation District (EIA-861). Imperial Irrigation District was cheaper by 14.51 cents, about $1,568 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Southern California Edison (SCE) to Imperial Irrigation District?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. California has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Southern California Edison (SCE) more expensive than Imperial Irrigation District?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between SCE and Imperial Irrigation District territory all feed the 14.51-cent gap.