Sacramento's Electricity Provider Is SMUD: Rates, Bills and Solar

Who provides electricity in Sacramento

SMUD, a publicly owned utility, both supplies and delivers the power, and it bills you directly. The California Energy Commission's service-territory map places more than 99% of the city in SMUD's territory. PG&E electric rates, the CPUC's quarterly average-rate reports and the CARE and FERA discounts do not apply to a SMUD electric account.

SMUD's 2026 residential prices

Most homes are on SMUD's Time-of-Day (5-8 p.m.) rate. Effective June 1, 2026, summer prices (June through September) are $0.1550 per kWh off-peak, $0.2139 mid-peak and $0.3765 during the weekday 5-to-8 p.m. peak; outside summer they are $0.1285 off-peak and $0.1776 at peak. Every account also pays a System Infrastructure Fixed Charge of $27 a month, or $17 for customers on the low-use version of the rate. SMUD says hydrogeneration charges are currently $0.00 per kWh.

SMUD also offers an optional Fixed Rate plan with one price at all hours, $0.2189 per kWh in summer and $0.1371 the rest of the year, which it says costs about 4% more than Time-of-Day on average. It suits a household that cannot move its evening use; everyone else usually pays less by shifting use out of the peak window.

What a Sacramento bill adds up to

No source publishes an average SMUD bill for the city, and the CPUC reports that estimate average bills cover only PG&E, SCE and SDG&E. You can build your own from SMUD's prices: every kWh used on a summer weekday evening costs about 2.4 times a summer off-peak kWh, so two homes with the same monthly usage can pay quite different amounts. Twelve months of your own bills show which pattern you have.

Discounts and solar on a SMUD account

SMUD's Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR) gives an income-based monthly discount: up to $105 for households at or below 50% of the federal poverty level (combining EAPR with SMUD's Rate Stabilization Fund discount), $42 at 50 to 100%, $20 at 100 to 150% and $10 at 150 to 200%. From February 1, 2026 the monthly income limit is $3,607 for a household of one or two and $5,500 for four. SMUD also runs a separate Medical Equipment Discount.

Solar customers approved on or after March 1, 2022 are on SMUD's Solar and Storage Rate, which since June 1, 2026 credits exported power at 9.6 cents per kWh at any hour or season. Customers approved earlier may stay on SMUD's original net metering until December 31, 2030, unless they add a SMUD-incentivized battery, modify the system or move. With exports worth 9.6 cents against a 37.65-cent summer peak, the value of solar in Sacramento lies in the power you use yourself.

Who is the electricity provider in Sacramento, California?

SMUD, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The Energy Commission's service-territory map places more than 99% of the City of Sacramento in SMUD territory. SMUD supplies and delivers the power and sends the electric bill.

What is the average electric bill in Sacramento?

No source publishes one; the CPUC's average-bill estimates cover only PG&E, SCE and SDG&E. A SMUD bill is a $27 monthly fixed charge plus Time-of-Day energy prices from $0.1285 to $0.3765 per kWh (effective June 1, 2026), so your own twelve months of usage decide the total.

How much does SMUD pay for solar exports?

Under the Solar and Storage Rate, SMUD credits exported power at 9.6 cents per kWh regardless of time of day or season, effective June 1, 2026. It applies to customers approved to install solar on or after March 1, 2022.