SDG&E bills contain multiple line items that can be confusing. Understanding each charge helps you identify what's driving your costs and whether your bill is accurate.
Your bill is divided into several main categories: generation, delivery, and various fees and surcharges.
Generation Charges
This is the cost of the electricity itself. It typically represents 25-35% of your total bill and includes:
- Energy procurement costs
- Power Purchase Agreement costs
- Renewable energy costs
If you're in a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) area like San Diego Community Power, generation charges come from the CCA.
Delivery Charges
These charges cover getting electricity to your home and represent a significant portion of your bill:
- Transmission: High-voltage lines from power plants
- Distribution: Local lines to your meter
- Wildfire Mitigation: Fire prevention and grid hardening
Delivery charges are paid to SDG&E regardless of your generation provider.
Wildfire-Related Charges
SDG&E's bills include significant wildfire-related costs:
- Wildfire Fund charge
- Fire Hazard Prevention Memorandum Account
- Undergrounding costs
These charges reflect SDG&E's extensive fire prevention investments in fire-prone terrain.
Key Items to Check
- Verify your meter readings match your usage
- Check your rate plan is correct
- Look for any one-time charges or adjustments
- Confirm your baseline zone is correct
- Review TOU period breakdown