What is Baseline?

This is the first tier of the residential electricity and natural gas rate structure. The quantity of Baseline is a significant portion of the reasonable needs of the average residential customer. In determining a customer’s Baseline quantity, climate zones and seasons (winter or summer) are considered. All electric homes (which include homes that may have gas appliances but use electricity to heat the home) are also taken into account in determining Baseline allowances.

The Baseline amount of energy, which is priced lower than its cost, is meant to encourage conservation, and was not designed to meet all of your energy needs. Additional Baseline allowances are given to consumers who depend on life-support equipment and others with certain health-related needs.

The Baseline program stems from the Sher Baseline Bill passed in 1982. It was enacted to simplify the then current program for energy conservation known as Lifeline.

Tariff references for Baseline Allowances per climate zone:

PG&E – Residential rate schedules; baseline territories listed in part A of Preliminary Statement

Edison – Preliminary Statement, section H; Index of communities (to determine what climate zone a city is in)

SDG&E –Residential rate schedules; territories in Map 1

SoCalGas –Residential rate schedules, list of cities for climate zones