Whether you are brand new to owning a solar panel system or you’re coming up on your solar anniversary, it’s important that you understand the role your energy consumption plays when it comes to your electric bill, specifically with true-up statements.
What is a True-Up Statement?
Once you install a solar panel system as a homeowner, you will receive monthly billing statements, just like you did before you went solar. However, you won’t actually be charged for your electricity usage until 12 months after the date your utility switched on your system. On your 12-month statement, you will then be billed for all the electricity you consumed throughout the last year.
The amount you owe on this bill will primarily depend on how much energy you used and produced during that 12-month period. Thanks to a process called net metering, when you generate a surplus amount of electricity, that energy gets sent to the grid, and you, as the homeowner, are rewarded with credit toward your bill. On the other hand, when you consume more electricity than you generate, you’ll need to pay the utility for drawing power from the grid.
In short, the true-up statement reconciles all your credits and charges over the past 12 months. If you have a balance due, the amount will appear on this bill next to “Year-to-Date Charges” for Southern California Edison (SCE) customers.
How to Avoid a Balance at the End of Your Solar Year
The best way to avoid paying at the end of the 12-month period is by paying attention to your energy usage. When you decide to get solar, your system should have been designed to cover the amount of energy you typically use. However, if your energy consumption increases, in most cases, your bill will, too.
Here are some factors that can affect your energy consumption:
- You may be using more electricity compared to when your system was installed.
- You were a part-time owner when the system was first designed.
- You may have purchased the system based on partial energy usage.
- You’ve recently added or changed appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, Mini-Splits, or pool pumps.
- There may be an error on the utility’s side.
By keeping track of these factors and limiting your usage to the level your solar system was designed to offset, you may end up owing $0 at the end of each solar year!
If you anticipate making any long-term lifestyle changes that could increase your energy consumption, it may be a good idea to add more panels to your system—in which case, our Coachella Valley solar installation team can help!
Our Coachella Valley Solar Experts at RenovaPLUS Can Help!
Have more questions about your true-up bill and what affects your energy consumption? Contact our Coachella Valley solar experts at Renova Energy or RenovaPLUS today! We are always available to help you better understand your system and provide you with top-notch maintenance.
Interested in a new solar panel system for your home or business so you can start saving big? Our solar experts in the Coachella Valley are ready to guide you toward a greener, cost-saving future. Call today!
