VCE Proudly Supports our NEM customers by Offering More Benefits
Have solar panels on your home or business? Thinking about installing solar? Learn more about how Net Energy Metering (NEM) works with Valley Clean Energy.
How It Works:
When you have solar, your electric meter measures how much electricity your panels generate and compares that to how much electricity you use every month. If you generated more than you used, VCE credits you at full retail value – plus a penny/kWh bonus. These credits accrue every month and offset electricity you use in the future.
If you are not yet a VCE customer, you will be enrolled in VCE and in VCE’s NEM program automatically after your PG&E true-up so that you don’t lose any credits. Your billing will be monthly or annual, whichever you are on with PG&E, and VCE’s cash-out (if applicable) will happen at the same time as your PG&E true-up. If you generated more electricity than you used over the year, VCE will pay you the wholesale rate (Net Surplus Compensation) paid by PG&E, plus a penny per kWh bonus at cash-out. You will receive the credit on your bill, and that credit may be applied to either VCE charges or PG&E charges on your bill. If you want to stay with PG&E, you will need to opt out of VCE.
Getting solar and already a VCE customer?
You will automatically be enrolled in VCE’s NEM program as well. Your billing will be annual on the PG&E side of your bill, and monthly on the VCE side, unless you call us to request annual billing. VCE’s cash-out happens in February for monthly billing. At that time, if you have generated more kWh over the course of the year than you used, we pay you the wholesale rate (Net Surplus Compensation) paid by PG&E, plus a penny per kWh bonus. You will receive the credit on your bill, and that credit may be applied to any outstanding charges, on the PG&E or VCE side of your bill.
If you have a newer solar system (after April 2023), you may be placed on the Solar Billing Plan (SBP). VCE’s SBP is similar to PG&E’s SBP, but credits customers one penny per kWh bonus.
If you have an email address linked to your PG&E account, you will receive a VCE cash-out statement (similar to a true-up statement) within 6 weeks of your cash-out, or annual settlement of charges, detailing your charges and credits. If you do not have an email linked to your account and would like to receive a statement, or have other solar-related questions, please reach out to our Customer Care Team at 1 (855) 699-8232 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
| VCE’s NEM Program |
PG&E’s NEM Program |
| Credits from excess monthly generation accrue
at retail plus a penny/kWh bonus |
Credits from excess monthly generation accrue at retail
|
| Annual surplus generation at cash-out is paid at the wholesale (Net Surplus Compensation) rate plus a penny per kWh bonus |
Annual surplus generation at true-up is paid at the wholesale (Net Surplus Compensation) rate |
| Billing is monthly or annual, and you may choose either |
Billing includes monthly minimum bill charge, with an annual true-up |
| Cash-out is on your PG&E true-up date (if on annual billing) or in February (if on monthly billing). You will receive a credit on your bill for your cash-out. Cash-out credit may be applied to VCE or PG&E charges |
True-up occurs on the annual anniversary of your interconnection |
Solar NEM Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply for VCE’s Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program?
No, you will be automatically enrolled in VCE’s NEM Program whether you install panels or already have panels, as long as you are a VCE customer. If you are currently a PG&E solar customer but you are in VCE territory, you will be enrolled in VCE and in VCE’s NEM program automatically after your next PG&E true-up unless you opt out to remain with PG&E.
Why do I still have to pay PG&E if I am enrolled in VCE’s NEM Program?
Charges from PG&E and from VCE are for different things. PG&E charges you for transmission and delivery of electricity, and VCE charges you for electric generation, or the creation, of the electricity. You are still charged for transmission and delivery even if you generate more than you use, because as a solar customer you are still connected to the grid and use its services. If you are a VCE NEM customer, you will still receive an annual PG&E true-up, but only for transmission and delivery.
What are some advantages of VCE’s NEM Program?
VCE gives you a bonus credit of a penny/kWh on your retail rate for excess monthly generation. This adds up quickly and offsets the cost of your electricity usage when you need electricity from the grid. VCE also pays you more at cash-out (see below). Additionally, for those times when you need to use electricity from the grid like at night or when it’s not sunny, if you are a VCE customer, more of that electricity is coming from renewable sources like solar and wind.
How does VCE’s cash-out work?
Once a year, either at your PG&E true-up (if you’re being billed annually), or VCE’s cash-out in February (if you’re billed monthly), there is a calculation done on how many kWh you generated and used for the annual period. If you generated more than you used, VCE pays you the wholesale rate paid by PG&E, Net Surplus Compensation (NSC), plus a penny per kWh bonus! The credit balance will be accounted for in a line item on your bill, and it simply rolls over on your bill to offset future usage, or any outstanding PG&E charges.
Why don’t I receive the retail rate for electricity at cash-out or true-up?
Whether you choose VCE or PG&E for electric generation services, both compensate annual surplus generation at the wholesale rate, or Net Surplus Compensation (NSC), but
VCE adds a penny/kWh bonus because we think it’s important to incentivize local solar. NSC is typically between 7 and 9 cents/kWh and is calculated at the going rate for wholesale electricity. More information can be found by downloading the California Public Utilities Commission’s factsheet on NSC
here.
If I have solar on my home, will I still be impacted by PG&E’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)?
If PG&E shuts off power to your home or business during a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event, you would still be impacted by the PSPS event unless you also invested in battery storage for your system. Most battery storage systems will provide a few hours of backup power, depending on the size of the system.
Does VCE’s NEM program work the same whether I lease or own my panels?
Yes. Whatever agreement was made with your solar company remains the same with VCE’s NEM Program. Please see your solar contract or contact your solar company for more details.
Does VCE support solar systems with battery storage?
Yes. VCE mirrors PG&E’s rates for energy storage.
What will my bill look like if I am on VCE’s NEM Program?
Your bill will contain two sections: PG&E’s section for transmission and delivery, and VCE’s section for electric generation. As a VCE customer, you will still have all the billing information you received as a PG&E customer.
What if I want to stay with PG&E’s NEM Program?
You may opt out of VCE to remain with PG&E at any time. You may opt out online
here or you may call us at 1 (855) 699-8232 from Monday-Friday 7am-7pm.
