Clean Power Alliance Is Testing $0 Midday Generation for 4,000 Homes Here's What You'd Still Pay For

Clean Power Alliance Is Testing $0 Midday Generation for 4,000 Homes
Here's What You'd Still Pay For

A headline about "$0 electricity" is hard to ignore. But if you live in Southern California, the fine print matters more than the headline. On October 1, 2026, Clean Power Alliance (CPA) announced a two-year pilot with UCLA that gives more than 4,000 households a $0 per kilowatt-hour generation charge during the middle of the day.

What the pilot actually does

The pilot is called TOU-SMART. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., participating homes pay nothing for CPA's generation charge. The trade-off is that the evening 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. window stays the most expensive, and the overnight rate from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. rises slightly. CPA says customers who move use from overnight into the middle of the day could save hundreds of dollars a year. If a participant ends up paying more than they would have on their old TOU-D-PRIME rate, CPA credits the difference at the end of each 12-month period.

What still shows up on your bill

CPA's pilot covers the generation part of your bill. Your utility still delivers the power, and delivery costs are a separate line. A $0 generation rate is not a $0 bill. That is the catch for most families. The sunny hours are cheap, but the evening hours, when you cook, run the AC and the kids are home, are when power costs the most. The gap solar and a battery can fill. This pilot rewards one thing: using power when the sun is out. A home with solar and a battery is built for exactly that. Solar produces in the midday window, and the battery holds that energy for the expensive 4 to 9 p.m. window. The pilot is a limited research program, so it is not something every homeowner can sign up for. Solar and storage at your own home is something you can plan around.

How third-party ownership (TPO) works

With a TPO program, a company installs, owns and maintains the solar and battery system on your home. You pay for the power it produces, without buying, leasing, or financing equipment yourself. Many programs are designed to come in below utility rates, with savings of up to 40% depending on your home and program.

Here is what to look for when you compare TPO solar and battery options:

-Maintenance covered for the term of the agreement

-A battery sized to cover your 4 to 9 p.m. use

-Backup power when the grid goes down

-Terms that can transfer if you sell your home

-Not sure which rate plan fits your home? Start with a quick qualification check.

To find out if your home qualifies for a TPO solar and battery program, visit myhomesolution.org

Additional resources

Clean Power Alliance press release, Oct. 1, 2026: https://files.cleanpoweralliance.org/uploads/2026/10/Press-Release-Clean-Power-Alliance-Tests-Zero-Cost-Daytime-Electricity-10.1.2026.pdf