Free Tool — Fresno, Clovis & Madera
PG&E True-Up
Calculator
Estimate your annual true-up bill — or enter your actual bill to find out exactly how much more solar you need to eliminate it.
Fix My True-Up Bill
Enter your actual true-up bill and current system details — we will calculate how much additional solar (and whether a battery helps) to bring it down to your target.
From your PG&E account
What you want to reduce it to (default $0)
How the True-Up Works in Fresno
PG&E solar customers are billed on a Net Energy Metering (NEM) plan. Instead of paying monthly for electricity, you receive credits throughout the year for excess solar production. Once a year — on your true-up date — PG&E settles the account.
If your solar system produced more than you used, you receive a small credit. If you used more than you produced, you pay the difference — that is your true-up bill.
Under NEM 2.0 (systems installed before April 2023), export credits are higher — roughly equal to the retail rate. Under NEM 3.0 (NEMA, April 2023 or later), export credits are significantly lower — roughly 3 cents per kWh. This makes battery storage much more valuable under NEM 3.0.
In Fresno, the most common reasons for a growing true-up bill are: system underproduction (dirty panels, inverter issues, shading), increased usage (new EV, HVAC replacement, pool pump), and PG&E rate increases.
Common Questions
What is a PG&E true-up bill?
The PG&E true-up is an annual settlement bill for solar customers on NEM. Throughout the year you receive credits for excess solar production. At your true-up date PG&E calculates whether you produced more than you used (credit) or used more than you produced (bill).
How much more solar do I need to eliminate my true-up?
It depends on your current system size, annual usage, NEM version, and whether you have a battery. Use the Fix My True-Up tab above — enter your actual bill amount and get an estimate of how many additional kilowatts you need.
Will adding a battery reduce my true-up bill?
Yes, especially on NEM 3.0. A battery lets you self-consume more of your solar production instead of exporting it at the low NEM 3.0 rate. In many cases a battery alone can reduce a true-up bill by several hundred dollars per year without adding any panels.
How does NEM 3.0 affect my true-up?
NEM 3.0 significantly reduced export credit rates — roughly 3 cents per kWh vs 8 cents under NEM 2.0. This means exporting excess solar earns much less, making battery storage far more valuable under NEM 3.0.