SDG&E peak hours: what you need to know in 2026

If you’re a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) customer, the time of day you use electricity matters. SDG&E’s residential rate plans are built around time-of-use (TOU) pricing—a structure where what you pay for your electricity changes based on when you use it. During on-peak hours, you pay the most. During off-peak and super off-peak hours, you pay less.

This guide covers SDG&E’s current TOU plans, with current pricing and a plain-language breakdown of which plan suits which kind of household.

For a broader look at peak and off-peak hours by utility across the U.S., see our guide to when electricity is cheapest.

For all SDG&E residential TOU customers, on-peak hours run from 4 pm to 9 pm every day, including weekends and holidays. This is when most people are using electricity, so there’s a high demand on the grid  and SDG&E charges its highest rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Outside of that time window, SDG&E charges lower off-peak rates. SDG&E also has a “super off-peak period"—the lowest-priced window—which runs from 10 am to 2 pm on weekdays. On weekends and overnight, rates drop to the standard off-peak rate—lower than on-peak, but not as low as super off-peak. Expanded year-round as of May 2026, the super off-peak window now applies every weekday—meaning midday is consistently the cheapest time to run appliances, charge an EV, or let a battery charge up.

Here’s how SDG&E’s primary residential TOU plans compare, using current rates from SDG&E’s official rate schedules:

Rates sourced from SDG&E’s official rate schedules, effective August 2026 (TOU-DR1) and April 2026 (TOU-DR). Always confirm current pricing at sdge.com before switching plans.

TOU-DR1: the standard plan for most customers

TOU-DR1 is SDG&E’s default residential TOU plan. If you haven’t yet switched plans, you’re most likely on this rate. On-peak hours run from 4 to 9 pm every day, with summer rates at 69 cents per kWh. Super off-peak rates drop to 37 cents per kWh in summer—about half the on-peak rate—during the 10 am to 2 pm weekday window.

The plan includes a baseline allowance—a set amount of electricity each month at a lower rate based on where you live and the season. If you stay within that amount, you’ll receive a credit of up to 10.7 cents per kWh—so the less you go over, the more you save.

Summer weekday rate breakdown:

• Super off-peak (10 am-2 pm): 37¢/kWh

• Off-peak (all other non-peak hours): 46¢/kWh

• On-peak (4-9 pm): 69¢/kWh

TOU-DR: the alternative TOU plan

TOU-DR has the same peak and super off-peak windows as TOU-DR1 but a different rate structure: lower on-peak rates (58¢ vs. 69¢ in summer) but higher off-peak rates (52¢ vs. 46¢). The spread between peak and off-peak is narrower, which means the financial reward for shifting usage is smaller, but so is the penalty for not shifting.

This plan may suit households that can’t reliably avoid the 4–9 pm window but still want a TOU structure. The lower on-peak rate provides some protection if peak-hour usage is unavoidable.

Summer weekday rate breakdown:

• Super off-peak (10 am-2 pm): 46¢/kWh

• Off-peak (all other non-peak hours): 52¢/kWh

• On-peak (4-9 pm): 58¢/kWh

TOU-ELEC: the electric home plan

TOU-ELEC is designed for all-electric homes—households that have been electrified with heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electric cooking. It does not include a baseline allowance but offers lower per-kWh rates in exchange, making it most cost-effective for customers who can shift significant loads—particularly EV charging and battery storage—to super off-peak hours.

SDG&E notes that TOU-ELEC is most beneficial for customers with both an EV and battery storage, or an electric heat pump, since the combination of super-off-peak charging and stored energy can maximize savings.

EV rate plan: EV-TOU-5

SDG&E’s dedicated EV rate plan is EV-TOU-5, providing service for customers who own a qualifying electric vehicle registered with the California DMV. Like TOU-ELEC, it rewards overnight and super off-peak EV charging with lower rates during those windows.

Given the complexity of EV and all-electric rate structures, we recommend using SDG&E’s My Energy Center to determine which EV plan makes sense for your actual usage and charging habits. 

TOU-DR1 is likely the right fit if:

• You’re a typical household on SDG&E’s standard residential rate

• You can shift laundry, dishwasher, and other heavy appliance use to before 4 pm or after 9 pm

• You want to take advantage of the lowest rates possible during the super off-peak window (10 am-2 pm weekdays)

To make the most of this plan, shift energy use out of the 4–9 pm window wherever you can. Run your dishwasher and laundry after 9 pm—most modern appliances have delay-start features that make this easy. Pre-cool your home before 4 pm, then raise your thermostat during on-peak hours. Take advantage of the expanded super off-peak window—running your washing machine between 10 am and 2 pm on a weekday now gets you SDG&E’s lowest available rate.

TOU-DR might suit you better if:

• You can’t reliably avoid peak hours on most days

• You want a lower on-peak rate at the cost of higher off-peak rates

• The narrower spread between peak and off-peak rates fits your lifestyle better

The tradeoff is real: TOU-DR’s lower peak rate (58¢ vs. 69¢) is appealing, but its higher off-peak rate (52¢ vs. 46¢) means you capture less value from shifting to off-peak hours. If you can shift usage consistently, TOU-DR1 will likely save you more.

TOU-ELEC is worth considering if:

• Your home is fully electric or you’re actively electrifying (heat pump, heat pump water heater, induction cooking)

• You have an EV and battery storage and can program both to charge during super off-peak hours

• You use enough electricity that the absence of a baseline allowance is offset by lower per-kWh rates

EV-TOU-5 is right if:

• You own a qualifying EV registered with the California DMV

• You want a plan specifically designed to reward overnight and off-peak EV charging

For solar customers, your TOU plan determines how much you’re credited for the electricity your panels export to the grid.

If you applied for solar after SDG&E’s NEM 2.0 program closed, you’re on SDG&E’s Net Energy Metering successor program, which means your export credits are based on the avoided cost rate rather than the full retail rate. Because residential solar systems typically produce the most electricity between 10 am and 2 pm—squarely in the super off-peak window—some of that energy may be exported to the grid when credit values are lower than during on-peak hours.

The expanded year-round super off-peak window creates an opportunity here: pairing solar with a battery allows you to store midday production during the super off-peak window and discharge it during the 4–9 pm on-peak period instead, capturing significantly more value from every kWh your system generates.

Understanding your SDG&E rate plan and peak hours is the first step. Lowering your electric bills is step two. Whether you’re thinking about solar, a home battery, or just want guidance on how to lower your monthly bill, EnergySage can help. Compare solar quotes from vetted local installers or explore home battery options to start reducing your on-peak energy costs.