LADWP Bill After Solar Install

[Tee2]

I've recently gone live with my 9k grid tie system in Los Angeles and am awaiting my first utility bill. According to the new net meter installed my production should come close to canceling out my usage pulled off the grid, due mostly to the fact that I send a lot of production out during peak rates and have switched all my heavy usage to off peak times.

My question is how well does anyone who's already received their dwp bills reflect their net meter usage? I'm asking as a co worker of mine has had panels for years and says that dwp never gets the bill right, often times not even sending him a bill and then when one shows up its often wrong or makes absolutely no sense. I can't fathom how that's possible as it's very easy to read the meter codes, plug the numbers into a spreadsheet and see exactly where one is.

Anyone out there have experience with this?

Thanks

[Admiral Ackbar]

I can't speak to your utility. Legacy utility billing systems were not set up to handle large amounts of generation. They were basically designed for the meters to spin one way for residential customers. You're correct, someone can do the calculation by hand, but as solar has grown that becomes unworkable. So many utilities are upgrading their billing systems. But there have been teething issues.

Look at it this way, my utility issues over 2 million bills a month. If just 0.5% of those are in error that's over 10,000 bills which is unacceptable. If you have unusual billing, say solar, large customer, or construction issue, there's more likely to be an error.

Really, the best practical advice is to watch your bills like a hawk. You'd be surprised at how few people regularly check their bills or know how to even read them. Sometimes, by the time they discover a problem, a year has passed.