Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Rate Selection Guide
Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC, also called Palmdale Choice Energy) is the Community Choice Aggregator serving the City of Palmdale, CA. EPIC procures electricity generation while Southern California Edison (SCE) handles delivery, metering, and billing — so all customer data access flows through SCE's Green Button, Share My Data, and CISR systems.
Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-GS-1-A | commercial | EPIC gen $0.10590/kWh; all-in $0.29924/kWh | Small commercial sites under ~20 kW demand |
| TOU-GS-2-E | commercial | EPIC gen $0.09208/kWh; all-in $0.27861/kWh | Mid-size commercial/industrial with demand metering |
| TOU-EV-8 | ev | EPIC gen $0.09608/kWh; all-in $0.30196/kWh | Commercial EV charging depots |
| EPIC Power100 | commercial | Small premium over EPIC Power generation rate | Businesses targeting 100% renewable / ESG goals |
Market Overview
Palmdale customers are served under California's CCA model. EPIC automatically supplies electricity generation, replacing SCE's generation charge, while SCE retains the regulated monopoly on transmission, distribution, metering, and billing. Customer choice is limited to EPIC (default), EPIC Power100 (opt-up), or opting out to SCE bundled generation — there is no open competitive retail ESP market for these customers.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
Default service for Palmdale customers; cleaner-than-SCE generation typically priced at or slightly below SCE's generation rate.
100% renewable energy opt-up option at a small premium over EPIC Power.
Customers may opt out of EPIC and return to SCE bundled generation service.
Current Rate Schedules
EPIC generation rates are set annually by the Palmdale City Council and replace SCE's generation charge; SCE delivery charges are added on top. The figures below are from the official SCE/EPIC Joint Rate Comparison (SCE rates effective Jan 1, 2026; EPIC rates effective Feb 1, 2024). Rates shown are EPIC Power generation rates per kWh with the comparable SCE generation rate for context.
Effective: January 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOU-GS-1-A (Small General Service, TOU) | commercial | Small commercial customers, time-of-use. Verified EPIC Power generation rate $0.10590/kWh vs SCE $0.11433/kWh; all-in total $0.29924/kWh (EPIC) vs $0.30992/kWh (SCE) at 986 kWh/mo per SCE/EPIC JRC. | Generation (EPIC) + SCE delivery, TOU periods | — |
| TOU-GS-2-E (Medium General Service, demand-metered) | commercial | Medium commercial/industrial with demand metering. Verified EPIC Power generation rate $0.09208/kWh vs SCE $0.09526/kWh; all-in total $0.27861/kWh (EPIC) vs $0.28415/kWh (SCE) at 12,150 kWh / 25 kW per JRC. | Generation (EPIC) + SCE delivery + demand charge, TOU periods | — |
| TOU-EV-8 (Commercial EV Charging) | ev | Commercial electric vehicle charging. Verified EPIC Power generation rate $0.09608/kWh vs SCE $0.09926/kWh; all-in total $0.30196/kWh (EPIC) vs $0.30750/kWh (SCE) at 12,150 kWh/mo per JRC. | Generation (EPIC) + SCE delivery, EV TOU periods | — |
| TOU-EV-9-SEC (Large Commercial EV, secondary) | ev | Large commercial EV / high-volume secondary-voltage. Verified EPIC Power generation rate $0.09164/kWh vs SCE $0.08734/kWh; all-in total $0.24577/kWh (EPIC) vs $0.24371/kWh (SCE) at 225,540 kWh/mo per JRC. | Generation (EPIC) + SCE delivery, EV TOU periods | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial site (under ~20 kW)
Single-meter retail/office on small general service.
EPIC Power generation ($0.10590/kWh) sits below SCE ($0.11433/kWh); the all-in TOU-GS-1-A total is $0.29924/kWh vs $0.30992/kWh on SCE — modest savings with stable annual pricing.
- Shift discretionary load off the SCE peak window
- Pull Green Button data to confirm TOU alignment
Mid-size demand-metered facility
Manufacturing or larger commercial with 25 kW+ demand.
EPIC Power generation ($0.09208/kWh) beats SCE ($0.09526/kWh) and the all-in $0.27861/kWh is below SCE's $0.28415/kWh. Demand-charge management is the larger savings lever here.
- Target peak-demand reduction with storage or load staggering
- Authorize a consultant via CISR for ongoing interval analytics
Commercial EV charging depot
Fleet or public EV charging operations.
On TOU-EV-8, EPIC Power ($0.09608/kWh) is below SCE ($0.09926/kWh). On the largest TOU-EV-9-SEC schedule, EPIC ($0.09164/kWh) runs slightly above SCE ($0.08734/kWh), so verify the per-schedule JRC before committing.
- Charge during EV off-peak / super-off-peak windows
- Re-check the schedule-specific Joint Rate Comparison annually
ESG / 100% renewable mandate
Organizations with sustainability or RE100 commitments.
EPIC Power100 delivers 100% renewable generation at a small premium over EPIC Power, with verified per-kWh generation rates published in the Joint Rate Comparison (e.g. $0.09748/kWh on TOU-GS-1-A).
- Document renewable claims using EPIC's published power-content label
- Weigh the modest premium against ESG reporting value
Historical Rate Trends
EPIC launched generation service in October 2022 (residential) and March 2023 (commercial). Generation rates are reset annually by the Palmdale City Council. The current EPIC commercial rates are effective February 1, 2024; the latest Joint Rate Comparison uses SCE rates effective January 1, 2026.
October 1, 2022
EPIC begins serving residential generation load in Palmdale.
n/aFebruary 1, 2024
Current EPIC commercial generation rate schedule takes effect.
n/aJanuary 1, 2026
SCE delivery/generation rates updated; reflected in the latest SCE/EPIC Joint Rate Comparison.
n/aOverall trend: Stable; annual council-set adjustments. EPIC Power has consistently been positioned at or slightly below SCE generation on standard schedules.
Next expected change: Next annual EPIC rate review by Palmdale City Council (typically early in the year).
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because EPIC vs SCE generation differences are small (often under 1 cent/kWh), the largest cost levers for Palmdale C&I customers are SCE delivery TOU optimization, demand-charge management, and renewable opt-up decisions.
Optimize SCE delivery TOU schedule
For: All commercial/industrial accounts
Delivery charges are unchanged by CCA choice, so selecting the right SCE TOU schedule (GS-1 vs GS-2 vs TOU-8) and shifting load off peak yields the biggest savings.
Manage demand charges
For: Demand-metered C&I (TOU-GS-2/3, TOU-8)
For demand-metered schedules like TOU-GS-2-E, peak-demand reduction (staggering equipment, battery storage) directly lowers SCE demand charges.
Evaluate EPIC Power vs SCE vs EPIC Power100
For: All accounts
Compare verified Joint Rate Comparison generation rates per schedule; EPIC Power is usually cheapest on standard schedules, while EPIC Power100 adds a renewable premium for ESG goals.
Automate interval-data analytics
For: C&I with 15-minute data
Pull 15-minute interval data via Green Button Connect or CISR to identify load anomalies, peak drivers, and TOU misalignment.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
Palmdale's market is a partial-choice CCA model, not full retail deregulation. The only generation choices are EPIC Power (default), EPIC Power100 (opt-up to 100% renewable), or opting out to SCE bundled generation. There is no competitive ESP market for these customers.
How to Compare Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Suppliers
- 01Review the SCE/EPIC Joint Rate Comparison for your schedule
- 02Default service is EPIC Power (auto-enrolled)
- 03Opt up to EPIC Power100 for 100% renewable
- 04Opt out to SCE bundled generation if preferred
Contract Terms for Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Supply Agreements
- No fixed-term contracts; service is month-to-month under CCA
- EPIC generation rates set annually by Palmdale City Council
- Opting out may trigger SCE Cost Responsibility Surcharge (CRS)
Common Pitfalls When Shopping Energy for Palmdale's Independent Choice (EPIC) Rates
- Opting out to SCE then returning may incur a transition period or higher CRS
- EPIC Power100 carries a renewable premium
- On the largest EV/secondary schedules EPIC generation can exceed SCE — verify per-schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Palmdale C&I customer pull 15-minute interval data for EPIC accounts?▾
Through SCE, not EPIC. Log into SCE My Account, go to Data Sharing / Green Button, and download CSV or Green Button XML. Commercial and industrial accounts receive 15-minute interval data; up to 36 months is available through SCE EnergyManager for GS-3/PA-3 customers.
How does our energy consultant get authorized access to our usage data?▾
Use SCE's Customer Information Service Request (CISR) Form 14-796. The customer of record signs the form, the consultant emails it with the service account (SA) IDs to 3RDPARTY@sce.com, and SCE delivers CSV/XML data after a 5-10 business day verification. Alternatively, register the consultant as a Green Button Connect vendor for automated OAuth access.
Does EPIC have its own API or data portal?▾
No. EPIC procures generation only and operates no customer information system, API, or developer portal. All programmatic data access runs through SCE's Green Button Connect My Data (OAuth 2.0) or via the UtilityAPI aggregator. EPIC does publish public rate/GHG data to the CEC MIDAS API.
Where do EPIC generation charges appear on the bill, and can we automate cost analysis?▾
SCE issues one combined bill with a separate 'EPIC Generation' line item replacing SCE's former generation charge. For automated cost analysis, pull billing and interval data via Green Button Connect or CISR, then apply EPIC's published generation rates (set annually by Palmdale City Council) plus SCE delivery charges.
Can a business opt out of EPIC or upgrade to 100% renewable?▾
Yes. Businesses are auto-enrolled in EPIC Power and can opt out to SCE bundled generation at any time, or opt up to EPIC Power100 (100% renewable). EPIC Power is typically priced at or slightly below SCE generation; EPIC Power100 carries a small premium.
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