SCE Pay Bill: What to Do If You Accidentally Overpaid Your Electric Bill
In the age of Auto Pay and fast digital transactions, it’s not uncommon to overpay a bill — either by mistake or through a duplicated payment. If you’re a customer of Southern California Edison (SCE) and you’ve paid more than you owe, don’t worry: the SCE Pay Bill system is equipped to handle account credits and refunds smoothly.
Here’s what happens when you overpay — and how to reclaim your money or apply it to future bills.
💳 1. What Happens to an Overpayment?
If you pay more than the amount due on your SCE bill, the excess balance will be credited to your account automatically. You’ll see it reflected in your next billing statement under “Account Credit” or “Previous Overpayment.”
This credit will be automatically applied toward your next bill unless you request a refund.
✅ Good to know: SCE does not penalize customers for overpaying and will carry the credit balance forward as long as needed.
📄 2. Where to See the Credit on Your Bill
Log into sce.com or open your paper bill. Look for:
- “Account Summary” section
- A line that says “Current Credit” or “Credit Balance”
- A negative number (e.g., -$45.78) — this indicates money available on your account
This amount will be deducted from your future billing cycle total automatically.
🔁 3. Want a Refund Instead? Here’s How to Request It
If you prefer to get your overpayment refunded instead of applying it to a future bill, follow these steps:
Requesting a Refund Online:
- Log in to your MySCE account
- Navigate to the Billing & Payment section
- Select “Contact Us” and choose “Billing Refund”
- Submit a request, including your account number and reason
Requesting by Phone:
- Call 1-800-655-4555
- Choose “Billing Questions”
- Request a refund from a live agent
Refunds are typically issued by check or direct deposit within 10–14 business days.
📌 4. Avoiding Overpayments in the Future
Overpayments often happen when:
- Auto Pay is enabled and a manual payment is submitted too
- Payments are made by both a customer and a family member
- A past-due amount is incorrectly estimated
To avoid this:
- Always check your current balance due in the SCE Pay Bill portal before paying
- Enable email/SMS billing alerts to monitor status
- Confirm Auto Pay activity and avoid duplicate payments
🔐 5. Is It Safe to Leave a Credit on My Account?
Yes. Any overpaid amount left on your account is stored safely in your SCE balance. You’re not charged interest, and your credit never expires. It will simply roll over until used.
This is particularly helpful if:
- You’re managing seasonal bills
- You want to pay in advance before a long trip
- You’re splitting costs with others and one person overpays
Conclusion
Overpaying your utility bill can be frustrating — but with SCE Pay Bill, it doesn’t have to be a problem. Whether you want your money back or prefer to apply it toward next month’s charges, Southern California Edison gives you full control and transparency.
If you’ve made an extra payment, don’t panic — just log in, review your balance, and choose the solution that works best for you.