Understanding your PG&E True-up bill
If you’re a PG&E customer in California with solar panels, your true-up bill is a crucial part of understanding your energy savings. Whether you’re under the NEM 1.0 or 2.0 billing plan or are enrolled in PG&E’s new solar billing structure, here’s what you need to know to decode your bill and stay on top of your energy costs.
What is a True-Up Bill?
A true-up bill is an annual summary of your energy usage and credits as a solar customer. It reconciles the energy you used from the grid with the energy your solar system generated and sent back to the grid over the course of a year.
This bill will show whether you owe PG&E money, or if you have excess credits remaining.
Reading Your True-Up Bill: NEM 1.0 and 2.0 Customers
Under a NEM 1.0 or 2.0 billing plan, you are billed annually for your net energy usage. Here’s what to look for:
Energy Charges:
The bill will display your total energy usage (kWh) compared to your solar production.
If your system generated more electricity than you used, you might see credits applied to your account.
Non-Bypassable Charges (NBCs):
These are mandatory fees that cannot be offset by solar credits. NBCs are based on your total grid usage and are billed monthly.
Net Surplus Compensation (NSC):
If you produced more energy than you consumed over the year, you’ll be eligible for NSC payments at the end of the true-up period. This is a lower price per kWh than you pay throughout the year.
Total Amount Due:
This section will show any remaining balance owed to PG&E after all credits and charges are applied.
Reading Your True-Up Bill: Customers on PG&E’s Updated Solar Billing Plan
For customers on PG&E’s updated solar billing plan, the true-up process differs slightly due to changes in how solar credits are calculated:
Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates:
Energy usage and credits are tracked based on when energy is consumed and produced.
Peak-hour energy costs more, while off-peak costs less.
Pay close attention to how your energy production aligns with TOU periods.
Monthly Settlements:
Monthly credits and charges are settled at the end of each billing cycle.
This means you are quite likely to have a bill in the Winter months when your solar system is producing less energy.
Your Solar System is still a very good financial investment and if designed and utilized correctly, will offset a significant amount of the energy you use from the grid throughout the year.
In the True-up these monthly settlements are summarized.
Grid Usage and Minimum Charges:
Even if you offset most of your energy usage, minimum monthly charges for grid access and non bypassable charges that cannot be offset by solar will still apply
Energy Export Credits:
PG&E’s new solar billing plan calculates energy export credits based on the time and day that energy is sent back to the grid. These credits fluctuate throughout the year, depending on grid demand and electricity value.
During certain hours in the late summer, when electricity demand is highest, credits for exporting energy to the grid can be significantly higher. These high-value hours are an excellent opportunity to maximize your credits.
The specific rates for energy export credits are updated annually and can be found on PG&E’s website. Staying informed about these fluctuations can help you optimize your solar system’s performance and increase your financial benefits
Tips for Managing Your True-Up Bill
Monitor Your Usage: Use your Solar or Battery app to track your energy production and consumption in real-time.
Adjust Energy Habits: Align high-energy activities with off-peak or daylight hours to maximize savings.
Understand Your Billing Period: Your true-up period is based on your system’s interconnection date, so mark your calendar to review your annual statement closely.
By understanding how to read your true-up bill, you’ll have better control over your energy costs and can maximize the financial benefits of your solar investment. For more indepth advice, we recommend referencing the PG&E billing website for NEM Customers or Solar Billing Plan Customers, or contacting the PG&E Solar Billing Department at 1-877-743-4112
