San Francisco Electricity Rates
ElectricChoice Energy Research · Updated
- The average residential electricity rate in San Francisco is 38.92¢ per kWh, more than double the national average.
- A typical SF home pays about $195/month for electricity at 500 kWh—much lower usage than most U.S. cities due to mild maritime climate.
- PG&E has filed for an 11.3% rate increase starting January 2027. CPUC ruling is expected late 2026.
Why Your Bill Is So High
PG&E bills San Francisco residential customers on a tiered rate structure — usage above the baseline allocation (~250 kWh/mo in climate zone T) is charged at a higher Tier 2 rate of 41.17¢/kWh, roughly 34% more than the Tier 1 rate of 30.75¢/kWh. Wildfire-related surcharges add ~4.8¢/kWh to every bill.
| 38.92¢ | Effective Residential Rate | Blended cost per kWh at 500 kWh under PG&E E-1 tiered tariff including wildfire and delivery surcharges. |
| +112% | Above U.S. National Average | SF residents pay more than double the current U.S. benchmark of 18.34¢/kWh. |
| ~$195 | Average Monthly Bill | Typical expenditure for a single-family home using 500 kWh in SF’s mild maritime climate. |
| 5.5M | Customers Served | By PG&E across 70,000 sq miles of northern and central California. |
PG&E E-1 — Tiered Residential Rate Breakdown
Effective · Authorized under CPUC Proceeding A.23-11-010
| Bill Component | Description | Rate / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Delivery Charge | Fixed monthly grid connection fee | $12.00 / month |
| Tier 1 Energy Rate | First ~250 kWh (baseline allocation, zone T) | 30.75¢ / kWh |
| Tier 2 Energy Rate | All usage above baseline allocation | 41.17¢ / kWh |
| Riders & Surcharges | PCIA, Wildfire Fund, CAM, DWR Bond, Nuclear Decom | ~10.42¢ / kWh |
| Effective Blended Rate | Tier-blended cost for typical 500 kWh home | ~38.92¢ / kWh |
Tiered Rate Structure
PG&E’s E-1 tariff charges Tier 1 (30.75¢/kWh) for usage within baseline allocation and Tier 2 (41.17¢/kWh) for everything above. SF homes in climate zone T receive ~250 kWh baseline. Keeping usage under baseline is key to controlling costs.
Wildfire Fund Surcharges
Following the 2018 Camp Fire and PG&E’s 2019 bankruptcy, customers pay ~4.8¢/kWh in wildfire-related charges including the Wildfire Fund Non-Bypassable Charge, catastrophic event memorandum account costs, and AB 1054 recovery.
CleanPowerSF (CCA)
San Francisco operates CleanPowerSF, a Community Choice Aggregation program. CCA customers get greener electricity at rates competitive with PG&E while PG&E still handles delivery. Default enrollment is “Green” (50% renewable) or opt-up to “SuperGreen” (100%).
Tiered Rates & Bill Estimator
PG&E offers several residential rate schedules in San Francisco. Most homes default to the tiered E-1 tariff, but you can opt into time-of-use billing to take advantage of lower off-peak rates—especially useful for EV charging and battery storage.
Available Residential Rate Schedules
All schedules effective January 1, 2026 · CPUC Proceeding A.23-11-010
| Rate Schedule | Billing Type | Energy Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Tiered (Default) | 30.75–41.17¢/kWh | Low-usage households |
| E-TOU-C | Time-of-Use | 28–50¢/kWh | Evening energy shifters |
| E-TOU-D | TOU + High Off-Peak Discount | 26–55¢/kWh | Solar & battery owners |
| EV2-A | EV Time-of-Use | 24–60¢/kWh | EV home charging |
Energy rates include applicable riders and surcharges. TOU schedules offer deep off-peak discounts (midnight–3 PM) but charge steep on-peak premiums (4–9 PM). See our EV charging cost calculator to estimate how TOU rates affect home charging.
Tiered Bill Estimator
PG&E E-1 tiered pricing — first 250 kWh at Tier 1 (30.75¢), remainder at Tier 2 (41.17¢), plus $12.00 delivery charge
250 kWh × 30.75¢ + $12.00 base charge. All usage within Tier 1 baseline.
250 kWh × 30.75¢ + 250 kWh × 41.17¢ + $12.00 base charge.
250 kWh × 30.75¢ + 750 kWh × 41.17¢ + $12.00 base charge.
Why Rates Keep Climbing
San Francisco’s 1,000 kWh bill has risen from $310.92 in March 2023 to $401.17 in January 2026. PG&E has filed for an additional 11.3% increase starting January 2027.
Proposed 2027 General Rate Case Increase
PG&E has filed for an 11.3% residential increase starting Jan 2027, driven by wildfire mitigation, grid undergrounding, and distribution infrastructure upgrades. A 500 kWh SF household bill would rise from ~$195 to $217/month. The CPUC income-graduated fixed charge pilot may restructure how rates work entirely.
GRC Phase 2 / Wildfire Fund
ERRA / PCIA Adjustment
GRC Phase 1
ERRA Fuel / CAM Adjustment
General Rate Case / Wildfire
GRC / Nuclear Decommissioning
Seasonal Costs & Energy Mix
San Francisco bills range from $165 in May to $237 in January. This month (September), a typical home pays around $186. PG&E’s power mix is 80% carbon-free with 68% renewable.
12-Month Seasonal Bill Estimate
Modeled for a typical 500 kWh home under San Francisco’s mild maritime climate — winter heating peak, minimal summer cooling
San Francisco bills peak in winter (Jan & Dec) at $237 from electric space heating, then drop to $165 in summer when SF’s cool maritime fog eliminates the need for air conditioning. This is the opposite of most U.S. cities.
PG&E & CleanPowerSF Generation Mix
Combined fuel mix powering San Francisco, the Bay Area, and northern California
Nuclear power comes from Diablo Canyon (2,256 MW, San Luis Obispo County) — California’s last operating nuclear plant, which received a 5-year life extension to 2030. PG&E’s power mix is among the cleanest of any major US utility at 80% carbon-free. The Hetch Hetchy municipal hydro system also provides clean power to SF public buildings.
How SF Compares
San Francisco’s 38.92¢/kWh rate is 112% above the U.S. average of 18.34¢/kWh, slightly higher than San Jose (38.15¢), and below San Diego (44.02¢ under SDG&E). Sacramento’s municipal utility charges just 17.54¢.
Effective Residential Electricity Rate Comparison
Effective rate per kWh based on benchmark residential consumption
Regulated market figures reflect official utility tariffs. Competitive deregulated rates reflect active plan offerings. View our comprehensive 50-state electricity price index or see the full California electricity rates page for statewide data.
PG&E Programs & Discounts
San Francisco residents cannot switch electricity providers, but PG&E and state programs offer significant discounts for low-income households, medical baseline allowances, and battery storage rebates through SGIP.
CARE & FERA Discounts
California Alternate Rates for Energy provides a 30–35% discount for qualifying low-income households. Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) offers an 18% discount for households of 3+ slightly above CARE thresholds.
Medical Baseline Allowance
Customers with qualifying medical conditions receive an additional baseline allocation (~500 kWh/mo extra) at the lower Tier 1 rate, potentially saving $40–$60/month for medically dependent households.
Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
Battery storage rebates of $200–$850 per kWh for residential batteries (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, etc.). Low-income and fire-threat zone customers receive enhanced incentives covering up to 100% of system cost.
People Also Ask
What is the average electricity rate in San Francisco?
About 38.92¢/kWh under PG&E’s tiered residential tariff, more than double the national average of 18.34¢/kWh. San Francisco has among the highest electricity rates of any major U.S. metro.
Is California a deregulated electricity state?
No. California suspended retail choice after the 2000–2001 energy crisis. PG&E is regulated by the CPUC. However, San Francisco operates CleanPowerSF (CCA) which provides an alternative generation supplier.
Who is the electric utility for San Francisco?
PG&E handles all electricity delivery. For generation, most SF residents are auto-enrolled in CleanPowerSF (CCA) unless they opt out. PG&E outage line: 1-800-743-5000.
Why are San Francisco electricity rates so high?
Wildfire mitigation (~4.8¢/kWh), PG&E’s post-bankruptcy infrastructure costs, California’s aggressive renewable mandates, and the CPUC-approved general rate case increases have driven rates up 75% since 2020.
What is CleanPowerSF?
San Francisco’s Community Choice Aggregation program. It purchases greener electricity while PG&E delivers it. The default “Green” tier provides 50%+ renewable content at rates competitive with PG&E bundled service.
What is the average monthly electric bill in San Francisco?
About $180–$195/mo for 500 kWh usage. SF homes use far less electricity than the national average due to the mild maritime climate — few homes have or need air conditioning.
How can I lower my PG&E bill in San Francisco?
Stay under your baseline allocation (~250 kWh) to avoid Tier 2 rates. Apply for CARE (30% discount) if income-eligible. Shift usage to off-peak hours if on a TOU plan. Electrify with heat pumps for gas-to-electric savings via the IRA federal credits.
