Solar Billing Plan

Do you have solar panels, battery storage, or other renewable technologies? With Sonoma Clean Power’s Solar Billing Plan, you can make the most of the energy your system generates. When your system produces more energy than you use, you’ll earn credits that reduce your electric bill or, in some cases, even receive a payment.

Who is Eligible?

• New Installations: If you've just installed solar panels and completed PG&E's Permission to Operate (PTO) process after April 14, 2023, you can enroll in the Solar Billing Plan
• Current NEM Customers: If you're a current Net Energy Metering (NEM) customer whose 20-year plan has ended, you will be billed under the updated Solar Billing Plan.
• If you submitted your application after April 14, 2023, but before April 15, 2024, you were temporarily placed on Net Energy Metering (NEM). You will stay on SCP’s NetGreen service for one full year before transitioning to the Solar Billing Plan.

If you are transitioning from Net Energy Metering to the Solar Billing Plan — you will be able to keep all your solar credits when you transition to the new plan.

How it Works:

When you join the Solar Billing Plan, you’ll be switched to the E-ELEC rate plan. This means both the electricity you use and the energy your system produces will be calculated each month. This Time-of-Use rate plan includes a $15-per-month Base Services Charge that lowers the price you pay per unit of energy (kWh), on average, compared to other Time-of-Use rates. Click here for more information on the Electric Home rate plan and ways to save.

Here’s what to expect on your bill:

• Monthly charges: You’ll pay for any electricity you use from the grid at the retail rate, based on time-of-use pricing.
• Energy export credits: When your system sends extra energy to the grid, you earn credits. The credit amount changes depending on the day of the year, time of day, and season. You can earn more credits during high-demand times when more people need electricity, like in the summer or during the evening hours. You can view the applicable credit values here.
• Annual cash out: Each spring, if you’ve sent extra energy to the grid, you’ll be paid for that extra energy at the Net Surplus Compensation rate, up to $5,000 per year. If the amount is over $200, you’ll receive a check; if it’s $200 or less, it will appear as a credit on your bill.

Solar & Battery Storage

Adding battery storage to your solar panels can maximize your benefits and savings under Solar Billing Plan. With a battery system, you can store extra solar energy during the day when energy prices are lower. Then later in the day, from 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm, you can use the stored energy or send extra energy back to the grid when electricity costs more.