Side by side (CA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Southern California Edison (SCE) | San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 32.43 | 43.63 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 32.34 | 45.48 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $3,502 | $4,712 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 3,219,520 | 307,982 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in CA | 16 | 2 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Southern California Edison (SCE) · San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) · California overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Orange · 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 San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) 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 San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)?
- Yes — in 2024 Southern California Edison (SCE) customers averaged 32.43 cents/kWh versus 43.63 for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) (EIA-861). Southern California Edison (SCE) was cheaper by 11.20 cents, about $1,209 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to Southern California Edison (SCE)?
- 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 San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) more expensive than Southern California Edison (SCE)?
- 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 SDG&E and SCE territory all feed the 11.20-cent gap.