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California Public Utilities Commission looking to change rates

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  • #31
    Is that $10 minimum just for the Electric portion of the bill?

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    • #32
      Originally posted by Yaryman View Post
      Is that $10 minimum just for the Electric portion of the bill?
      Yes. Gas bill doesn't count.
      CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozx

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      • #33
        As others have mentioned, that certainly changes the calculations on how many panels to get.

        And as I am about to buy a solar system, the number of panels I need just went down.

        If my math is correct, at the current bottom tier and with the new minimum payment, I want to generate 61 kwh less than I use.

        61 x 16.35¢ = $9.98 against a $10 minimum.

        Even with a price increase to 20¢, I still want to generate 50 kwh less.

        What a brilliant plan.

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        • #34
          Yeah, although predicting the amount generated each month to that level of precision is not really possible, and even then, the amount generated each month is not the same. If you consumed the same amount each month, and targeted undergenerating consumption by 50 kWh in the summer, you might be undergenerating by 250 kWh in the winter. Unfortunately, the monthly minimum is determined for each month individually (not for the year overall), so the best case probably means you end up with a few months paying the minimum and the rest of the time paying a little bit more than that.
          CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozx

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          • #35
            Sensij,

            Thanks for confirming.

            I realize guessing one's energy use for a particular month is a crap shoot, but my electricity usage falls as the days get shorter and as my electrical generation would fall.

            The only exception to that is usually in December as my electricity use spikes because of the cold and heating the house. The heat is gas, but it takes a ton of electricity to push that hot air around.

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            • #36
              Thanks to forum member zazaag, I was able to find SDG&E's proposed rates based on the rate reform decision last month. They can be found at the link below, and should represent an OK guess at rates for solar planning, at least until 2019 when TOU rate plans will become the billing default. However, tiered plans should still be available for opt-in. The actual rates will be determined through the GRC Phase ii proceeding, so that will is still worth following.

              SDG&E
              http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDoc.../153144709.PDF

              PG&E (as found by zazaag)
              http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDoc.../152961304.PDF

              I haven't read it closely enough to know why SCE didn't have a filing at the same time. Really, though, it would be wise for anyone considering solar to start learning about TOU plans and understanding their consumption patterns well enough to know under what conditions TOU works out better than tiers.
              CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozx

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