PG&E · True-Up · Solar Billing
PG&E True-Up Bill:
Why It's High and How to Fix It
A high annual true-up bill is one of the most common complaints from solar homeowners in the Central Valley. Here are the six most common causes — and exactly what to do about each one.
What Is the PG&E True-Up?
Solar customers on PG&E's Net Energy Metering program don't pay a normal monthly bill. Instead, PG&E tracks the net of all energy you export to the grid (solar surplus) and all energy you import from the grid (evening and cloudy-day usage) over a 12-month period. At the end of that period — on the anniversary of your interconnection date — PG&E sends a true-up statement that settles the balance.
If you exported more than you imported (net surplus), you receive a credit. If you imported more than you exported (net deficit), you owe PG&E the difference. The true-up is the moment of truth for your solar system's performance.
A well-designed, properly functioning solar system should produce a near-zero or small true-up bill. If yours is $300, $500, or more, something is off — and it's almost always fixable.
6 Reasons Your True-Up Is High
1. System is undersized for current usage
What's Happening
The most common cause. Your usage grew after installation — new EV, home addition, more occupants, new HVAC — but your solar system stayed the same size. The gap between production and consumption shows up as a true-up bill.
How to Fix It
Add battery storage to maximize self-consumption of existing production. Adding panels would trigger NEM 3.0 for NEM 2.0 customers — battery is usually the better move.
2. System is underperforming
What's Happening
Shading from new tree growth, soiling (Central Valley dust and bird droppings), failed microinverters, or inverter faults can reduce production by 10–30% without triggering any visible alarm.
How to Fix It
Schedule a performance audit. We test inverters, inspect panels, and measure actual vs. expected production. Cleaning alone can recover 5–15% of lost production.
3. NEM 3.0 low export credits
What's Happening
If you went solar after April 2023, your export credits are ~$0.03/kWh — far below the retail rate you pay for grid power. Even a well-sized system will have a positive true-up without battery storage.
How to Fix It
Add battery storage to shift midday solar production to the 4–9 PM peak window instead of exporting at low rates.
4. Wrong rate plan
What's Happening
On a time-of-use plan without battery storage, you may be buying expensive peak power (4–9 PM) while your solar credits are earned at off-peak rates. The mismatch creates a net deficit.
How to Fix It
Review your rate plan. E-1 (tiered) may be simpler and more cost-effective for solar-only systems on NEM 3.0. E-TOU-C is best with battery storage.
5. High minimum bill charges
What's Happening
PG&E charges a minimum monthly bill (currently ~$10–$15/month) regardless of solar production. Over 12 months, this adds $120–$180 to your true-up even if your system is perfectly sized.
How to Fix It
This is unavoidable — it's a fixed PG&E charge. Factor it into your expectations; it doesn't indicate a system problem.
6. PCIA (Power Charge Indifference Adjustment)
What's Happening
The PCIA is a fee PG&E charges solar customers to cover their share of long-term power contracts. It appears as a line item on your bill and reduces your net savings. It's locked in at the rate when you interconnected.
How to Fix It
The PCIA is unavoidable but typically decreases over time as the underlying contracts expire. It is not a sign of a system problem.
Estimate Your True-Up Before It Arrives
Our PG&E True-Up Calculator lets you estimate your annual true-up from your system details — or calculate how much more solar or battery you need to eliminate a high true-up.
True-Up FAQ
When does PG&E send the true-up bill?
PG&E sends your annual true-up statement on the anniversary of your solar interconnection date — the date your system was officially approved and placed on the NEM tariff. The statement covers the prior 12 months of net energy usage. You have 30 days to pay any balance owed.
What if I can't pay my true-up bill?
PG&E offers payment plans for large true-up balances. Contact PG&E customer service before the due date to arrange a payment plan. A large true-up is also a signal that your system needs attention — either it's underperforming, undersized for your current usage, or your rate plan isn't optimized.
Can I get a credit instead of a bill at true-up?
Yes — if your system produced more than you consumed over the year (net surplus), PG&E will issue a credit. Under NEM 2.0, this credit is at near-retail rates and can be meaningful. Under NEM 3.0, surplus credits are at the low export rate (~$0.03/kWh) and are typically small. Most NEM 3.0 customers aim for near-zero rather than surplus.
How do I find out if my solar system is underperforming?
Check your inverter monitoring app (Enphase Enlighten, SolarEdge monitoring, Tesla app) and compare your actual monthly production to the production estimate in your original solar proposal. A 10%+ gap between expected and actual production warrants investigation. We offer performance audits that identify the specific cause of underperformance.
Does adding a battery reduce my true-up bill?
Yes — significantly, especially for NEM 3.0 customers. A battery stores midday solar production and discharges it during the 4–9 PM peak window, reducing the amount of expensive grid power you buy in the evening. For NEM 3.0 customers, this can reduce a $600–$800 annual true-up to under $100.
High true-up? We can help.
We diagnose underperforming systems and install battery storage throughout the Central Valley. Most true-up problems have a clear, cost-effective solution.