Solar Billing Plan (SBP) customers: Starting on February 15, 2023, new rooftop solar applications have been approved under the new VCE Solar Billing Plan (SBP), the successor program to Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0.
VCE 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 produces, you withdraw credits from that account. If you have insufficient credits accrued, VCE 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).
- VCE NEM customers receive the same credits and charges they received with PG&E.
- VCENEM customers receive a 1 cent/KWh bonus.
- Every February, VCE customers who produced more electricity during the year than they used receive a cash-out payment for each kWh.
- Customers on an annual true-up will be billed for energy consumption in February 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.
Choose Annual or Monthly True-up
Customers on our Standard VCE NEM program can choose an annual true-up option or remain on our monthly true-up plan. You can select an annual true-up online or by speaking with an VCE customer service representative (1 (855) 699-8232).
Monthly true-up
If you generate more electricity than you use in a given billing month, the excess NEM credits accrue in your account. You pay for consumption monthly if you do not have enough NEM credits in your account balance to cover monthly charges. Monthly true-up customers receive annual payments for surplus generation at the February 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 February. You may owe due to under-generation, or receive payment, at the February true-up.
True-Up Statement
- At the end of the annual February true-up period, if you produced more electricity than you used, you will be compensated for surplus generation.
- Your annual compensation, or cash-out value, is based on surplus kWh multiplied by the Net Surplus Compensation rate (PDF).
- If your cash-out value is less than $100, this will stay on your account and can be used for future monthly charges. If your cash-out value is greater than or equal to $100, you will be sent a check.
- Cash-out checks are typically sent out in June – July following the February true-up.
Net Energy Metering (NEM) FAQs
In addition to the Bright Choice discount on net usage, are there other benefits for NEM customers of being with VCE?
While the financial benefit for VCE’s Standard VCE NEM customers may be similar to PG&E NEM service, VCE provides other benefits as a local not for profit public agency. As a VCE customer, you can choose your service level and electricity mix: Bright Choice or UltraGreen. VCE offers Bright Choice at a lower rate than PG&E, UltraGreen, which is 100% renewable energy, and we have a goal of offering 100% carbon-free Bright Choice power by 2030. VCE is a local not-for-profit public agency, which means all of our board meetings are open to the public and net revenues are reinvested in our communities to create local jobs, innovative energy programs and clean power projects. VCE’s Board is composed of democratically elected leaders from each jurisdiction the agency serves; which makes them more VCEilable and accountable to the communities they serve.
You can also participate in both VCE and PG&E programs. For more information on VCE programs, visit our Go Electric web page.
Why am I paying every month, when I used to only pay once a year for my energy usage?
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What is a true up? What is the difference between a monthly and annual true-up?
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VCE customers will transition based on their PG&E true-up date and expiration period on their current NEM tariff in summer 2024. NEM customers receive 20 years on their NEM tariff before transitioning to SBP. All new solar customers will start service on SBP.
Is a monthly or annual true-up better for me?
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I see negative numbers for my net generation and net usage. What does this mean? How can I see how much I am generating/ using/ net consuming each month?
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What is the net usage?
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What is the net generation?
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What is the rollover credit balance?
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What is the baseline credit?
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What is the difference between the generation credit I see on my bill and NEM credits for surplus generation?
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How do I find the PG&E estimated true up and the VCE estimated true up?
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