SCE’s winter time-of-use season begins in October, making this a useful moment to review a solar-plus-battery proposal’s billing assumptions. A qualifying no-upfront PPA can help eligible homeowners access solar generation and storage, but its value should be evaluated across the utility’s full seasonal schedule.
For a home on SCE’s Solar Billing Plan, ask the provider to show how the October-through-May periods affect expected grid purchases and battery use. A summer-only comparison does not describe the whole year.
Check the winter hours on your actual plan
SCE’s current time-of-use page, checked September 30, 2026, lists these October-through-May periods for TOU-D-PRIME on weekdays and weekends:
- Super-off-peak: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Mid-peak: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Off-peak: 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The evening period remains the more expensive part of that winter schedule. The label changing from summer weekday on-peak to winter mid-peak does not make the evening the lowest-price time.
Confirm the rate name on your statement. SCE’s published price illustrations cover customers receiving both generation and delivery from SCE; customers with another generation provider need that provider’s applicable charges too. Use current account-specific prices rather than copying an old screenshot into a quote.
Keep grid purchases and exports separate
SCE explains that Solar Billing Plan customers use TOU-D-PRIME. The utility bill reflects when electricity is bought, when surplus energy is exported and regular charges. Existing NEM customers should have their own arrangement modeled rather than assuming Solar Billing Plan rules apply.
SCE also identifies season as a factor in export-credit values. Ask for the export schedule applicable to your account; do not value every winter export at a summer evening credit or at the price of imported electricity.
A battery can retain some daytime solar for later household use. Whether that produces the expected financial benefit depends on the actual import prices, export opportunities, available solar and battery operation. The comparison should include remaining fixed charges and other applicable utility costs.
Ask for a winter battery scenario
Have the designer show the energy flows for a representative winter day: solar used directly, solar stored, energy exported and electricity still bought from the grid. Keep the household’s backup reserve consistent between competing proposals.
For a simple planning example, imagine an appliance can safely run either at noon or at 6 p.m. If its electricity comes from the grid, those times fall in different TOU-D-PRIME winter periods. If it runs from solar or stored energy, the comparison must instead account for that energy’s alternative use, battery losses and any export credit given up. There is no universal dollar saving from moving one appliance.
The Department of Energy’s storage guide explains that storing and retrieving electricity involves losses. Storage shifts energy in time; it does not create additional generation. For outage planning, request a separate supported-load estimate. Battery energy is finite, and solar recharge requires suitable sunlight and compatible equipment.
Keep the PPA payment in the annual comparison
The utility’s seasonal schedule does not, by itself, change your contractual PPA price. The CPUC solar guide explains that the provider owns the solar system and sells its generated electricity. Read the agreement’s payment formula, energy rate and any escalator.
Our seasonal PPA payment guide explains why the provider invoice can also vary with production. Request a full-year comparison combining provider payments, any separate battery fee and remaining utility costs.
Confirm eligibility for zero upfront payment, installation charges, battery inclusion and ownership, contract term, maintenance, replacement and home-sale provisions. No upfront purchase means neither free electricity nor guaranteed savings.
Bring your SCE statement and seasonal forecast to the West Coast Alternatives homeowner journey to discuss a solar-plus-battery PPA built around your household’s actual schedule.