Understanding Your Street Lighting Rates
Your street lighting electric bill consists of two main components:
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Electric Commodity (EECC): Costs associated with electric generation and procurement
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Utility Distribution Company (UDC): Costs associated with transmission and distribution, public purpose programs, nuclear decommissioning, the ongoing competition transition charge and reliability services
You will also see one of three UDC streetlight tariffs:
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Rate Schedule LS-1 governs service on SDG&E-owned streetlights provided on an unmetered flat monthly rate, per lamp basis based on wattage.
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Rate Schedule LS-2 is the service that most street lighting customers are on. This tariff for unmetered customer-owned lights is calculated on a per-lamp basis, at a flat monthly fee based on the wattage. If you are on this rate, you will need to notify SDG&E whenever changes are made to your lighting inventory. SDG&E may also audit lighting inventories from time to time at its discretion.
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Rate Schedule LS-3 is for customer-owned metered streetlight service and has been closed to new accounts since 1979
There is no special rate for more efficient lighting. If you do decide to upgrade, simply advise us of any new lighting specifications.
For Customers on Schedule LS-2 (customer-owned lights)
If you upgrade your streetlights with LED or Induction lights, let us know so we can make sure you’re billed at the correct rate. Your LS-2 per-kWh-rate remains the same. However, you’ll see significant savings on your bill for fixtures that are converted to these more energy efficient technologies.
If you install an LED fixture with a variable milliamp drive, we’ll need to bill at the higher driver setting wattage, unless the higher drivers are disabled. Many LED lamp manufacturers are aware of utility billing requirements and are offering to factory-disable the higher driver settings at the request of the customer, upon purchase. Be sure to ask your lighting manufacturer about this service. Note: If the higher drive settings on multi-drive fixtures are not disabled, your rebate or incentive may be reduced..
For Customers on Schedule LS-3 (a metered rate which was closed to new accounts in 1979)
Customers on this schedule or any other metered rates will also see savings when they upgrade their lights. Your billing will remain the same; however, check with us before you purchase your new lights so we can tell you about incentives or rebates you may be eligible for.
Earn cash rebates by upgrading the following types of lamps to either qualifying LED or Induction lamps (as noted):
|
Current Fixture |
Changing to Qualifying: |
|---|---|
|
High Pressure Sodium |
LED or Induction |
|
Standard Metal Halide (not pulse start) |
LED or Induction |
|
Incandescent |
LED |
|
Mercury Vapor |
Induction |
Lighting fixture table for qualifying incentives
|
Current Fixture |
Changing to Qualifying: |
|---|---|
|
High Pressure Sodium |
LED or Induction |
|
Low Pressure Sodium |
LED or Induction |
|
Standard Metal Halide (not pulse start) |
LED or Induction |
|
Standard Metal Halide (pulse start) |
LED or Induction |
|
Mercury Vapor |
LED or Induction |
|
Incandescent |
LED or Induction |
Find out which voltage your current streetlights are served from, and we can help you determine if any pre-wiring upgrades are necessary prior to installation of LED or Induction lights. This applies primarily to customers on the older “series” type lights and some customers on either the LS-2 and LS-3 street lighting rates.