SDG&E Solar Bill Help
Understanding your SDG&E bill when you have solar.
Having solar doesn't always mean a $0 SDG&E bill. Here's how SDG&E solar billing works at a high level, why you may still owe money, and what to check when a bill looks higher than expected.
Independent resource. Utility Bill Advocates is an independent consumer-help resource. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or representing SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric). Company names are used only to describe the topic of this guide.
The short answer
An SDG&E solar bill reflects the power you pull from the grid, the power your system sends back, the time of day each happens, your billing plan (legacy NEM or the newer Solar Billing Plan), and charges that solar credits can't offset. A high bill usually comes from more evening grid use, lower production, seasonal changes, fixed charges or how your credits are applied — so start by checking your billing plan and your imports vs. exports.
Who this is for
SDG&E customers with rooftop solar, with or without a home battery, who want to understand their bill, their true-up or a bill that seems unexpectedly high.
Reading an SDG&E bill with solar
SDG&E provides separate guides for reading a NEM bill and a Solar Billing Plan bill. Both show electricity you imported from the grid and credit for electricity your system exported.
If your community uses a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), your bill can include both SDG&E delivery charges and CCA generation charges. SDG&E directs CCA customers to contact their CCA for details on generation credits.
NEM vs. the Solar Billing Plan, at a high level
Net Energy Metering (NEM)
SDG&E describes NEM as measuring energy in both directions. Charges and credits are tracked over a 12-month period, and at the annual true-up any outstanding balance is due; net surplus compensation may apply if you exported more electricity than you imported. SDG&E notes that when a NEM account's legacy period ends, it transitions to the Solar Billing Plan.
Solar Billing Plan
Created after the CPUC's December 2022 decision. SDG&E says it's based on time-of-use pricing, bills are due monthly, and export credits are based on the value of energy at each hour of the day. Credits are split into generation and delivery export credits, each offsetting only its matching import charges. Monthly billing does not eliminate the annual true-up: SDG&E says the annual true-up bill may include a charge or credit adjustment that accounts for net export compensation previously credited during the true-up period.
Time-of-use matters
SDG&E says residential Solar Billing Plan customers are on a time-of-use plan with on-peak, off-peak and super off-peak periods, with on-peak hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Power you import during on-peak hours generally costs more — which is also when solar panels produce little.
Check your own bill or SDG&E account for your exact plan and current prices; we don't list rates here because they change.
Solar production vs. what your home uses
Solar panels produce the most power around midday. Many households use the most power in the late afternoon and evening — cooking, laundry, air conditioning, EV charging — when panels produce little or nothing.
Whatever your panels don't cover at that moment is pulled from the grid (an import). Extra power your panels make when you're not using it goes back to the grid (an export). Your utility bill is built from those imports, exports, the rate plan you're on, and fixed charges.
Where a home battery fits in
At a high level, a home battery can store solar power produced during the day and use it later, such as in the evening, instead of importing that power from the grid. It may also provide backup power during an outage.
How much a battery affects your bill depends on how it's set up (for example, backup-only versus time-based use), its size, your usage and your rate plan. If a battery's settings changed, or it's reserving most of its charge for backup, your grid imports may be higher than you expect.
SDG&E says the Solar Billing Plan is designed in part to encourage solar paired with battery storage, so stored solar can be used during peak evening hours.
Why you can still get a bill after going solar
Evening and nighttime use
Power you use when the sun is down usually comes from the grid unless a battery covers it.
Fixed charges and fees
Some monthly charges can't be offset by solar credits. SDG&E, for example, notes that NEM customers may still owe fixed charges and fees even when they generate more than they use.
Time-of-use pricing
Power imported during higher-priced hours costs more, while exports may be credited at different values depending on your billing plan.
Seasonal changes
Shorter winter days mean less production; hot summers can mean more AC use than panels cover.
Usage that grew
A new EV, pool pump, heat pump or more people at home can outpace what the system was sized for.
Billing-plan cycles
Depending on your plan, some charges may settle monthly or on a longer cycle, such as an annual true-up statement.
A step-by-step solar bill check
1. Confirm which billing plan you're on
Your bill or online account should show whether you're on a legacy net energy metering (NEM) plan or a newer plan such as a Solar Billing Plan, and your time-of-use rate.
2. Compare the same month last year
Look at total grid imports, exports and billing days — not just the dollar amount.
3. Check your system's production
Use your installer's or equipment maker's monitoring app to see whether production dropped (shading, dirt, an error or an inverter issue).
4. Look at when you use power
Heavy use between late afternoon and evening often costs more on time-of-use plans.
5. Review your battery settings
If you have a battery, check its mode and backup reserve in the app.
6. Separate fixed charges from usage
Identify which charges would appear no matter how much solar you produce.
7. Write down your questions
Equipment questions go to your installer; billing and rate questions go to your utility.
Your installer vs. SDG&E: who handles what
Ask your installer about
Panels, inverter, battery, monitoring app, production that seems low, error messages, warranty and service.
Ask SDG&E about
Your billing plan, rate plan, meter readings, imports and exports, credits, fixed charges, true-up timing and payment options. SDG&E's My Energy Center lets you download detailed bills and export data and compare pricing plans.
Ask your CCA (if you have one) about
Generation charges and generation credits.
Questions to ask
For your installer
Is my system producing what it's expected to for this time of year? Are there any alerts or errors? How is my battery configured? Did any settings change after an update or service visit?
For your utility
Which billing plan and rate plan am I on? How are my exports credited? Which charges can't be offset by solar credits? When does my billing cycle or true-up settle? Is there a rate plan that better fits my usage?
My Wattie · Coming Soon
A plain-language helper for your bill.
My Wattie, our upcoming AI-powered utility companion, is being designed to help explain utility bills — including imports, exports and credits — in everyday language, and to help you prepare questions for your utility. It isn't available yet.
Meet My Wattie and join early accessCommon questions
Why do I owe SDG&E money if I have solar?
Common reasons include grid power used in the evening or at night, time-of-use pricing, seasonal drops in production, higher usage, and charges that solar credits can't offset. SDG&E notes NEM customers may still owe fixed charges and fees even when they generate more than they use.
What is an SDG&E true-up?
A true-up is an annual reconciliation, but it works differently under the two plans. Under legacy NEM, charges and credits are tracked over a 12-month cycle and any outstanding balance is due at the annual true-up. Under the Solar Billing Plan, bills are due monthly, but there is still an annual true-up bill; SDG&E says it may include a charge or credit adjustment that accounts for net export compensation previously credited during the true-up period.
Is Utility Bill Advocates part of SDG&E?
No. Utility Bill Advocates is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or representing SDG&E. For account changes, contact SDG&E directly.
Official sources to verify
Program rules, amounts and deadlines can change. Always confirm current details with the official program or your utility.
Want help making sense of your SDG&E solar bill?
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