Use this guide
Choose the questions relevant to your situation. Expand each answer, save the checklist and request written clarification where evidence is missing.
Questions homeowners ask
Does a PG&E True-Up label identify my solar program?
PG&E publishes separate NEM and Solar Billing Plan explanations. Retain the actual program, rate and cycle; the label alone does not identify payment or credit rules.
Do Solar Billing Plan customers still receive annual statements?
Yes. PG&E describes monthly billing and an annual True-Up. The annual statement summarizes charges and credits; some cycles can be shorter than a year.
Source: PG&E: Solar Billing Plan. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Which rate does PG&E identify for residential Solar Billing Plan accounts?
PG&E identifies automatic enrollment in Electric Home, a time-of-use plan with a Base Services Charge. Confirm your actual bill and rate before comparing costs.
Source: PG&E: Solar Billing Plan. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
What should I retain from the Solar Billing Plan annual summary?
Keep grid-energy charges, export credits, applied accumulated credits and qualifying credits separately. PG&E lists these in its residential annual statement explanation.
Source: PG&E: Solar Billing Plan. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Why might a NEM bill use a new fixed-charge name?
PG&E says the Base Services Charge replaces the Minimum Electric Charge for eligible residential NEM customers beginning March 2026. Verify the statement’s applicable period.
Source: PG&E: Solar bill explanations. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Can NEM generation credits offset that Base Services Charge?
PG&E’s residential NEM explanation says monthly generation credits cannot offset this charge. Confirm the actual account amount and any eligible reduction; this guide quotes no price.
Source: PG&E: Solar bill explanations. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Does a NEM dollar credit prove annual surplus energy?
No. PG&E explains that time-of-use valuation can produce a credit without a net energy surplus. Keep kilowatt-hour totals separate from dollar credits and any surplus-compensation calculation.
Source: PG&E: Solar bill explanations. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
How should I investigate a larger annual amount?
Collect matching statements, production history, household changes and unresolved line items. A larger amount alone cannot distinguish changed usage, billing treatment or an equipment problem. Request the utility’s calculation before commissioning technical work.
Can an inspection determine my billing entitlement?
An agreed assessment can document accessible observations and unresolved technical questions. It cannot assign your tariff, settle a billing dispute or guarantee savings. Check qualifications, compensation, referral conflicts and actual homeowner service availability.
Your decision checklist
- Confirm Pacific Gas and Electric Company on the account.
- Retain the actual NEM or Solar Billing Plan identification.
- Record the current rate, billing dates and annual cycle.
- Separate amounts due monthly from annual summaries.
- Keep grid imports, exports and system generation distinct.
- Retain credits in both energy units and dollars where provided.
- Compare charge names and applicability across statement dates.
- Request a written explanation for unresolved bill lines.
Save or print this guide from your browser. Keep completed records privately.
Continue your research
Build a program-and-period comparison
| Record | What to retain |
|---|---|
| Program | Actual NEM or Solar Billing Plan identification and account rate |
| Period | Monthly dates, True-Up cycle and any partial-cycle notice |
| Energy | Dated generation, grid imports and exports with measurement boundaries |
| Money | Monthly due amount, export credits and annual adjustments |
| Questions | Exact disputed line, requested explanation and responsible contact |
Example: two neighbors compare annual statements, but one has NEM and the other has Solar Billing Plan. Begin by writing the program, rate, monthly amounts paid and annual cycle beside each total. A single annual number does not establish which household received better equipment or a better contract.
Example: a household adds an electric vehicle and later sees a larger annual amount. Preserve the usage change, matching bills and dated production export. Ask which line changed and whether the records cover the same period. This example does not prove the vehicle caused the increase or that the array is operating correctly; it shows which missing evidence would help narrow the question.
This guide concerns residential Pacific Gas and Electric Company accounts in California. It does not concern Oregon’s Portland General Electric or every California utility. Read the NEM bill explanation and the separate Solar Billing Plan residential section for the actual program. Business sections have separate rules. Reviewed October 6, 2026. We do not quote current rates, guarantee eligibility, calculate savings or transfer an account. These original worksheets and examples are editorial planning aids, not utility billing instructions. Do not change equipment settings or perform electrical tests to investigate a bill. Continue with measurement basics, system-problem records and solar home-sale evidence. Read Solar Survey AI’s evidence methodology and confirm available inspection scope before booking. Homeowner provider connections and planned free remote diagnosis remain coming soon.
About these guides
Published by Solar Survey AI, a commercial survey-services company. Our original decision checklists are recommendations; linked authorities support the referenced facts. We may benefit if you purchase our services. This is not independent certification of our company, a project-specific engineering decision or personal tax/legal advice. Local rules, contracts and site evidence control individual decisions. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
For available survey or inspection services, confirm your project scope and availability with our team. Our planned free homeowner remote diagnosis remains coming soon.
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