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How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home in San Diego?

6 min read Checked November 3, 2026 Report a correction

On SDG&E's EV-TOU-5 plan, charging during super off-peak hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) costs 12.3 cents per kWh as of November 1, 2026, versus 52.4 cents from 4 to 9 p.m., so when you plug in matters more than anything else. A Level 2 charger usually runs $1,200 to $2,800 installed if your panel can handle it, and in the City of San Diego it needs an electrical permit with a $246.39 inspection fee.

Cheapest hours
12 a.m.-6 a.m.

EV-TOU-5 super off-peak, 12.3 cents/kWh from Nov. 1, 2026

Avoid
4-9 p.m. daily

On-peak, 52.4 cents/kWh at Nov. 1, 2026 prices

Level 2 installed
$1,200-$2,800

Typical 200A panel, per NRG Clean Power, Sept. 2026

City permit
$246.39 inspection

Simple no-plan permit for a house, duplex or townhouse

The short version

  • EV-TOU-5 prices effective Nov. 1, 2026: 12.3 cents super off-peak, 46.6 cents off-peak, 52.4 cents on-peak per kWh (SDG&E bundled customers)
  • Summer on-peak on EV-TOU-5 was 80.3 cents per kWh in SDG&E's April 1, 2026 rate table
  • The federal 30C home charger tax credit (30% up to $1,000) covered installs only through June 30, 2026
  • City of San Diego EV charger permits for single-family homes need no plans; inspection is $246.39 per charger
  • NRG Clean Power's September 2026 estimate: $1,200-$2,800 all-in for Level 2, or $4,500-$7,500 if the panel must be replaced

Charging at home in San Diego is cheap or expensive depending almost entirely on the clock. SDG&E's EV plans split the day into three price periods, and the gap between the cheapest and priciest hour is about four to one at November 2026 prices and about six to one in SDG&E's summer table. We checked SDG&E's EV plan page and rate tables, the City of San Diego permit bulletin and federal incentive listings on November 3, 2026. Your bill also carries SDG&E's daily fixed charge, explained in our base services charge guide.

What are SDG&E's EV charging rates right now?

SDG&E EV-TOU-5 prices per kWh

  • Super off-peak

    Hours
    Midnight-6 a.m. daily; SDG&E also lists weekdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and weekends/holidays until 2 p.m.
    Nov. 1, 2026 price
    12.3 cents
    Summer price (Apr. 1, 2026 table)
    12.9 cents

  • Off-peak

    Hours
    Remaining hours outside 4-9 p.m.
    Nov. 1, 2026 price
    46.6 cents
    Summer price (Apr. 1, 2026 table)
    50.6 cents

  • On-peak

    Hours
    4-9 p.m. every day, including weekends
    Nov. 1, 2026 price
    52.4 cents
    Summer price (Apr. 1, 2026 table)
    80.3 cents

Source: SDG&E Electric Vehicle Pricing Plans page and EV-TOU-5 Total Rates Table, checked Nov 3, 2026. Bundled (SDG&E generation) customers; excludes the daily Base Services Charge.

EV-TOU-5 is for customers who charge an EV at home or are on SDG&E's Solar Billing Plan; you switch in My Energy Center. SDG&E also offers EV-TOU, for homes with a separate meter just for the car (30.1 cents super off-peak), and EV-TOU-5-P, which adds $1.16 per kWh from 4 to 9 p.m. on up to 18 event days a year. If a community choice provider buys your power, SDG&E's delivery-only super off-peak price is 4.7 cents and the provider bills generation separately.

An electric car plugged into a wall-mounted charger in a home garage

Scheduling the car to charge after midnight is the single biggest money saver on SDG&E's EV plans.

Photo: dcbel / Unsplash

Do I need a Level 2 charger, or is a regular outlet enough?

Level 1 vs. Level 2 home charging

  • Level 1 (standard outlet)

    Equipment
    The cord that comes with the car
    Install cost
    None if a dedicated circuit is near your parking spot
    Best for
    Short, regular commutes with long overnight parking (DOE)
    Fits in the 6-hour weekday cheap window?
    Harder for a big top-up
    City permit
    Not needed just to plug in; new wiring is permit work

  • Level 2 (240-volt)

    Equipment
    Wall unit, $400-$900 for 40-48 amp models
    Install cost
    $600-$1,200 for a short run; more for long runs or trenching
    Best for
    Long commutes, big batteries, irregular schedules (DOE)
    Fits in the 6-hour weekday cheap window?
    Much easier
    City permit
    Electrical permit required

What a home charger setup typically costs

Least workMost work
  1. Level 1No added cost if the circuit exists

    Use the car's cord on an existing dedicated outlet

    Hardware
    Included with car
    Install
    $0
  2. Level 2, panel OKMost common case

    Short run from a 200-amp panel

    All-in
    $1,200-$2,800
    Permit & inspection
    $100-$400
  3. Level 2 + load managerAlternative to a new panel

    Device that shares capacity instead of upgrading

    Device
    $300-$700
    Plus install
    As above
  4. Level 2 + new panelHigher if SDG&E's meter or service drop changes

    Panel upgrade to 200 amps

    All-in
    $4,500-$7,500
    Panel alone
    $2,500-$4,500

Installer estimates for California, NRG Clean Power, Sept. 9, 2026. A company that sells installs; get several quotes.

Do I need a permit to install an EV charger in San Diego?

City of San Diego permit for a house, duplex or townhouse

  1. 01

    Apply online as a Simple No-Plan permit

    Choose No-Plan - Residential - Combination Mech/Elec/Plum. Single dwellings, duplexes and townhouses need no plans or calculations, per Information Bulletin 187. Homes in historic districts must submit plans.

  2. 02

    Fill out the circuit card

    For a private garage, Circuit Card DS-1779A replaces electrical plans; the load calculation goes on the card and must be on site for inspection.

  3. 03

    Pay the inspection fee

    $246.39 per charger, plus an $11.34 mapping fee if it applies. Doing it yourself also requires the Owner-Builder Verification form, DS-3042.

  4. 04

    Be home for the inspection

    Inspectors won't open live equipment, so someone has to open the panel and give access to the charger and service equipment.

An electrician mounting a Level 2 EV charger on a wall

A City of San Diego inspection costs $246.39 per charger for a single-family home.

Photo: Emmanuel Ikwuegbu / Unsplash

Are there rebates for home EV chargers in San Diego in 2026?

  • Federal 30C tax credit: 30% up to $1,000 for a charger at your main home in qualifying areas, but the Department of Energy lists it as expired for installs after June 30, 2026
  • County of San Diego EV Charger Program: up to $5,000 per Level 2 charger, but only for publicly accessible chargers; home chargers at single-family houses are excluded
  • SDG&E: its EV plans are a rate discount, not a charger rebate; we did not find an active SDG&E home charger rebate on November 3, 2026
  • Income-qualified help: the state's Access Clean California (AccessCleanCA.org) points eligible households to charging and vehicle programs
  • Before buying, check DriveClean.ca.gov with your ZIP code, since programs open and close during the year. Pairing an EV with panels? See is solar worth it in San Diego.

Is this still right?

We last checked this tip against its sources on November 3, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.

Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.

This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.

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