Save with solar and net metering

EBCE’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) program encourages our commercial and industrial customers to install solar systems that produce clean renewable energy.

How it works

Net Energy Metering creates a two-way conversation between your solar system and the utility grid, based on the variation in energy production and usage. Your interconnection application is with PG&E; you don't need EBCE's approval to install solar.

When you have solar and are a PG&E bundled customer (not on EBCE service), you pay PG&E a monthly minimum charge and then the rest of your charges and credits are trued-up annually. On EBCE service, PG&E continues that process for their part of the bill (transmission, distribution, fees - but not generation), and you have a separate bill page showing your generation credits and debits with EBCE.

EBCE's NEM Policy:

Your meter tracks the amount of electricity you use versus the amount of electricity your solar system delivers to the grid.

• When you produce more electricity than you consume, like in the middle of the day, that excess generation is credited and put in a “savings account.”

• When you consume more than your solar system produced, you withdraw credits from that account. If you have insufficient credits accrued, EBCE will either charge you for the net amount of energy you needed that month (customers on a monthly true-up) or debit from your account (customers on an annual true-up).

• EBCE's NEM customers receive the same credits and charges from EBCE they received with PG&E.

• Every April will be the EBCE “cash-out” period when customers who produced more electricity during the year than they used will receive a cash-out payment for each kWh.

• Customers on an annual true-up will also be billed for energy consumption in April if they consumed more energy than they produced throughout the year

• You continue to pay PG&E their minimum monthly delivery charge, and have your annual true-up with PG&E on your interconnection anniversary date for the services they provide.

• Interested in learning more about NEM 3.0? Then check out this presentation “Informational Discussion on Proposed CPUC Net Energy Metering Decision” by Michael Quiroz, Regulatory Analyst at EBCE.
  Slides (PDF)
  (PDF)Video

Customers on EBCE’s Standard EBCE NEM program can choose an annual true-up option or remain on our monthly true-up plan. You are able to select an annual true-up online or by speaking with an EBCE customer service representative (1-833-699-3223). NEM customers have until February 28/29 each year to make their selection for the following April 2023 NEM cycle.

• Monthly true-up: If you generate more electricity than you use in a given billing month, the excess generation credit accrues in your account. You pay for consumption on a monthly basis if you do not have enough NEM credits in your account balance to cover monthly charges. Monthly true-up customers receive annual payment for surplus generation at the April cash-out.

• Annual true-up: You will not be billed monthly for generation service. Credits and debits for consumption and net generation roll over until the annual true-up in April. You may owe due to under-generation, or receive payment, at the April true-up.