If you decide to switch to solar energy, your relationship with PG&E may change. You will now start getting a yearly statement that is known as a true up solar bill, which is one of the most significant changes that are taking place. This invoice compiles all of your monthly electricity charges and credits for the whole year into a single statement for your convenience.
Why Is My True-Up Bill Such A Struggling Amount To Pay?
If your most recent true-up statement was significantly higher than normal, there are a few potential reasons for this that you should explore, including the following:
1. Fixed Fees And Other Charges That Are Not Refundable
Your solar contractor needs to include these costs in their first feasibility study to reduce the likelihood of unpleasant surprises. On the other hand, it is not unusual for these costs to take homeowners by surprise when they are viewed as a whole after a whole year has passed. This happens rather frequently.
Utility providers are going to start charging their customers monthly fees to keep them connected to the electrical grid. These costs will automatically be deducted from the ordinary billing account you have with PG&E every month. A rundown of all of these reoccurring monthly costs will be included in your annual true-up charge.
2. An Increase In The Amount Of Electricity Used
It is common for homeowners who have just had solar panels installed to unknowingly increase their overall energy use after the panels have been installed. It is important that after installing solar panels, one does not give in to the temptation to alter how they are accustomed to using energy.
Homeowners are required by the companies that offer their utilities to select a solar photovoltaic (PV) system size that will offset no more than the previous year’s worth of power use. If a home uses its electricity more freely after installing solar panels, the household may be surprised by a true-up fee that is more than they had anticipated.
What Steps Can I Take To Remove My True-Up Bill From My Account?
You may be able to reduce the size of your true-up cost by making adjustments to the solar system you already have in place.
The following are two of the most desirable options:
Increase The Total Number Of Solar Panels On Your Existing System As One Possible Solution.
If your actual power bill is greater than the estimate, this indicates that you are not producing enough electricity to maximize the amount of money you are saving. Think about getting in touch with an expert in the selling of solar energy to find out how much additional solar power your house could need to match the amount of energy that is already being supplied by the local utility grid.
Upgrade Your Existing Solar PV System With Batteries
The second solution is to upgrade your existing solar photovoltaic (PV) system with batteries. Solar panels are a great way to generate electricity for your home and reduce your carbon footprint on their own; however, when you combine solar panels with batteries, you build a system that can provide power when it is most useful, whether it be during the day or at night.
Because of this combination, a working and dynamic system is produced, which considerably boosts energy security by delivering electricity even when there are disturbances in the grid.
The procedure is simple: the battery will store any excess power generated by your solar panels. When the sun goes down, the energy that has been stored will begin to supply your home with electricity. Homeowners can save money by configuring their systems to prioritize energy delivery during nighttime peak hours, which is when power is at its most expensive. This helps them avoid paying excessive time-of-use costs.