Solar Billing Plan
SBP is a successor program to Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0. The following customers are billed under the Solar Billing Plan:
- The solar system application to interconnect date was completed after April 14, 2023.
- The system has completed a 20-year legacy period on NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0. Customers on NEM 1.0 who transitioned to NEM 2.0 at the end of their legacy period are not permitted to receive an additional 20 years on NEM 2.0.
- The generation capacity of an existing solar system is increased by 1kW or 10% of the current system size.
Ava implemented its Solar Billing Plan for residential customers in July 2024 and for non-residential customers in February 2026. Our SBP policy aligns closely with PG&E’s policy but offers our customers additional Ava-only export incentives through the Ava Export Bonus Credit for CARE/FERA customers and the Ava Peak Hours Export Bonus Credit for all other customers. Eligible customers who were previously billed on NEM will transition based on the timing of their PG&E true-up month.
How it Works
The Solar Billing Plan (SBP) creates a two-way conversation between your solar system and the utility grid based on the variation in energy imports and exports. Your interconnection application is with PG&E; you don’t need our approval to install solar. We offer bonus credits for exports to better compensate you for your system’s generation.
Monthly Statement
- Imports and exports from your solar system are billed separately. Each month, charges from imports and credits from exports are summed to calculate your monthly bill. You pay for consumption monthly if you do not have enough SBP credits in your account balance to cover monthly charges. If you generate more electricity than you use in a given billing month, excess credits will rollover to the next month.
- Imports are charged based on the retail rate of electricity that aligns with your electric rate schedule. Residential SBP customers are required to be on the E-Elec rate plan with PG&E.
- Exports of excess energy generation (when you produce more energy than you use) will receive compensation in the form of Energy Export Credits (EEC), which vary by hour and day and align with the value of the energy at that time.
- In addition, eligible customers will receive the following Bonus Credits for exports.
- Energy Export Bonus Credit (EEBC): New voluntary residential solar installs will receive additional credits for exports depending on the year they interconnect. The applicable EEBC value will be locked in for the customer for nine years. PG&E also provides this credit to their customers. See table below for EEBC details.
- Ava Export Bonus Credit for CARE/ FERA: All CARE and FERA customers will receive an extra $0.01/ kWh for exports. This is only for Ava customers.
- Ava Peak Hours Export Bonus Credit: All non-CARE/ FERA customers will receive an extra $0.025/ kWh for exports between the hours of 3 and 8 pm. This is only for Ava customers.
| Interconnection Year | EEBC Residential $/kWh | EEBC Income Qualified $/kWh* |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $0.022 | $0.090 |
| 2024 | $0.018 | $0.072 |
| 2025 | $0.013 | $0.054 |
| 2026 | $0.009 | $0.036 |
| 2027 | $0.004 | $0.018 |
Ava’s Annual Cash Out/True-Up Statement
- Ava’s annual cash out occurs every April. At the end of the annual April cash out 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), minus the approximate value of Energy Export Credits already provided to you for the same energy.
- 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 April true-up.
Resources
Solar Billing Plan FAQ
What is the difference between NEM and SBP?
NEM customers are charged or credited at the retail electricity rate based on their net energy usage each month. SBP handles imports and exports of energy separately. Imports are charged based on the retail rate and exports are credited at the Energy Export Credits (EEC) rate, which varies by day and hour. Customers’ charges and credits are then netted to calculate the monthly bill.
All SBP customers are billed monthly. Unlike NEM, the program does not include an annual billing option, where charges roll over until the true-up date.
Does being an Ava customer impact my transition from NEM to SBP?
No. Customers who complete a full 20 years on Net Energy Metering (NEM) transition to the Solar Billing Plan (SBP) with both Ava and PG&E, in line with State legislation.
What is the credit value for exported energy on SBP?
Each month, customers will receive the Energy Export Credit for exported energy as a bill credit. This varies based on the hour and month the energy is produced. The values can be found on PG&E’s website here.
There are also bonus credits for residential customers who interconnect between April 2023 and 2027. Customers will receive the credit for 9 years.The initial credit value is based on the interconnection date and the locked in value is based on the permission to operate date. This credit does not apply to residential new construction that is required to install solar.
- 2023
Residential $/kWh: $0.022
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0.090 - 2024
Residential $/kWh: $0.018
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0.072 - 2025
Residential $/kWh: $0.013
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0.054 - 2026
Residential $/kWh: $0.009
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0.036 - 2027
Residential $/kWh: $0.004
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0.018 - 2028
Residential $/kWh: $0
Low Income, DAC, Indian Country $/kWh: $0
In addition, all SBP Ava customers will receive an export bonus credits for 5 years (2024-2029) during peak hours. Ava CARE/ FERA customers will receive a bonus credit for 5 years for all exported electricity.
- Ava Peak Hours Bonus Credit: Flat adder between 3-8pm, non CARE/ FERA only, for 5 years, $0.025/ kWh (3-8pm)
- Ava CARE/FERA Bonus Credit: Flat adder at all hours for 5 years, $0.01/kWh
Each year, customers will receive compensation for their exported electricity via the net surplus compensation calculation. This is the same as NEM 2.0, however, the amount will be reduced by the approximate value of Energy Export Credits already provided in prior months. Customers with a credit value greater than or equal to $100 will be sent payment via check. Customers with less than $100 will see this rollover on their bill as a credit.
If I am an Ava customer, do I also earn export credits with PG&E?
Yes. As an Ava customer, you are a joint customer of Ava and PG&E. Ava provides electricity generation, and PG&E provides transmission and distribution services. When you export to the grid, you earn both delivery credits with PG&E and generation credits with Ava. Your delivery credits, referred to as “Energy Delivered” credits on the bill, are used to cover PG&E delivery charges while your generation credits are used to cover Ava generation charges.
What is the difference between monthly statements and the annual cash-out/true-up statement in April?
All SBP customers are billed monthly. Charges from imports and credits from exports are summed to calculate your monthly bill. You pay for consumption monthly if you do not have enough SBP credits in your account balance to cover monthly charges. If you generate more electricity than you use in a given billing month, the excess SBP credits will rollover to the next month. Each year, on your April billing cycle, you will be compensated or cashed-out for any surplus generation that amounts to a credit balance. 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.
Is there a separate Ava and PG&E annual true-up?
Yes. All Ava and PG&E SBP customers are billed monthly and receive an annual true-up statement which compensates customers who have an annual surplus generation that amounts to a credit balance. You will have separate true-ups with Ava for your generation charges and PG&E for your delivery charges. Ava issues annual cash-out/true-up payments for surplus generation each April. Your PG&E annual true-up may occur in a different month than your Ava annual true-up.
Do I still have a PG&E delivery charge with Ava?
Yes, as an Ava customer you continue to be a PG&E customer for the delivery portion of the bill. Ava customers pay Ava for electricity generation and PG&E for delivery and transmission services.
How will I transition from NEM to SBP? Will I true-up and lose my NEM credits?
Customers will see their NEM credits transfer into their Energy Export Credit balance with Ava. They will not experience an off-cycle true-up. The exception is annual NEM true-up customers, who will undergo a true-up at the transition to SBP to be placed on monthly billing.
What happens with my credits if I close my account or leave Ava prior to the April cash out period?
Accounts that terminate or leave Ava service prior to April are eligible for the Ava annual cash out process and will be sent a check for any surplus generation that amounts to a credit balance. Customers that opt out and choose PG&E should be advised that PG&E will perform a true‐up of their account at the time of return to PG&E bundled service, and that PG&E’s standard terms for transitional rates apply to customer returns with less than a six‐month advance notice if they have been an Ava customer for 60 days or more.