SDGE Standard (DR) NEM 1.0 Customer ... what's next?

[Ampster]

........... I find it hard to imagine a scenario where any TOU program (with peak hours coinciding with my system's lowest/nonexistent output times) would be beneficial to me.
.........

That may be true for you.
Generation is only part of the equation.
I know nothing about your consumption patterns but I can imagine a consumption pattern where a TOU plan would be beneficial to someone else.

I am not criticizing your decision, but only making that comment for the benefit of others who may not have consumption patterns like yours. It all depends on where you are standing.

[HCMarkus]

Additionally, I chatted with SDG&E just now and they confirmed that Standard (DR) will be available to me for 20 years from my PTO date.

I have confirmed this in SDG&E's written documentation, which provides:

If you activated your system before June 29, 2016 (called “NEM 1.0”) you can choose to remain on the tiered plan until the 20th anniversary of when your system was installed, or as long as the plan is available. If you are on a TOU plan with the peak period from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m., you will transition to the 4-9 p.m. peak period plan on the five-year anniversary date of your solar system’s activation. You have the option to revert to a non-TOU plan at any time and keep it until the 20th anniversary of your system activation.

https://www.sdge.com/whenmatters#FAQ

As I have hit the 5-year mark with my system and would not be reverting back to peak 11AM-6PM this year, I have switched back to DR for my system. I find it hard to imagine a scenario where any TOU program (with peak hours coinciding with my system's lowest/nonexistent output times) would be beneficial to me.

Folks have commented on SDG&E's apparent obfuscation. I just found a good example... when I access my account, SDG&E provides a highlighted note:

You're eligible to select or stay on a plan that includes on-peak hours of 11am to 6pm, noted with "G" in the plan name. Read Full Message

Reading the full message, the following additional sentence, and nothing more, is added to the note:

After May 7, 2020, the on-peak hours of 4pm to 9pm will apply to all Time of Use plans.

[J.P.M.]

C1C2E952-B5AB-4BCA-B38C-BD7A76AED617.jpeg

yup ... I think I’ll stay where I’m at

kicking myself I didn’t go with the higher watt panels or find a spot for 3 more when we installed!

You can do your own analysis on your usage but it takes time and some digging. From what I've seen for me and a few neighbors, the SDG & E #'s seem reasonable but of limited use.

There are other tariffs options than those listed. Don't assume you are limited to TOU- DR1 or TOU-DR2. For example, because you have PV, there is DR-SES which is, at this time, un-tiered.

If you analyze it and calc. your own potential bills with other tariffs, you can see what the benefit/PITA of knocking back on peak time use.

Hard to SWAG, but if you can keep your draw from SDG & E < ~ 3,600 - ~ 4,000 kWh/yr., you'll pay ~ $0.26 - $0.28/kWh for all of it regardless of time of use. That's about the same rate as all the T.O.U. rates except the summer peak rates. So, any residential system that offsets >= ~ 3,600 kWh/yr. of the usage may well result in a lower annual electric bill on the old, tiered, non T.O.U. rates, particularly if that household has a lot of peak hour summertime usage. That looks like what you may be seeing in the SDG & E comparisons.

One reason among several, including a scenario as described above, why I'm staying on tiered rates is pretty cynical: If SDG & E and the other CA I.O.U's are breaking their asses to get everyone on T.O.U., that means it's more profitable for them. More profit for them probably means more cost to me. Besides, I don't have to wind up doing laundry at 3 A.M.

If I get an EV that may change. But, if I were buying PV now, I'd need to take the super off peak rates, whatever they are and take that lower per kWh cost into the LCOE calculus. If I'm paying a super low off peak rate like some T.O.U. tariffs impose, and I charge my EV at those rates, depending on the cost of electricity for that particular task, it may not make sense or be cost effective to add PV capacity to offset those particular super off peak rates.

[Ampster]

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kicking myself I didn’t go with the higher watt panels or find a spot for 3 more when we installed!

If your goal is to reduce your bill without reducing your usage, an alternative would be to shift your usage and go with one of the TOU rates. That may not be feasible or desirable but for a few people it might be better than regretting that they don't have more capacity, It is also more complicated to analyze whether it is even practical.

[MoJ]

C1C2E952-B5AB-4BCA-B38C-BD7A76AED617.jpeg

yup ... I think I’ll stay where I’m at

kicking myself I didn’t go with the higher watt panels or find a spot for 3 more when we installed!

[J.P.M.]

Just got the paper notification and the switch date will be on my TrueUp date in January. Calling to tell them I’m sticking on tiered

SDG & E sent me a notice/form included with my Aug. billing that said T.O.U. was the greatest thing since sliced bread and then asked me to check which tariff (rate plan) I wanted. Remaining on tiered rates was one of the options and I checked that one.

2 more billing cycles after my Oct. trueup, I'm still on sch. DR (tiered rates) so it looks like they conformed to my wishes.

[MoJ]

Just got the paper notification and the switch date will be on my TrueUp date in January. Calling to tell them I’m sticking on tiered

[rwb1921]

Thank you rwb1921 and JPM. I have heard from a couple of other friends who receive paper bills, they observed their "Switch" notification with their true up bill. I am paperless, so I dont know what the notification looks like. I keep checking my plan, and its still DR. I dont want to miss it, but my true up is in December. JPM, I understand it can happen at any time, but just if there is correlation to true up, it may help me (and others) get thru the summer.

rwb1921, do you have your system on PVOutput?

Yes, my system is on PVOutput. I live in Mission Viejo.

[J.P.M.]

Thank you rwb1921 and JPM. I have heard from a couple of other friends who receive paper bills, they observed their "Switch" notification with their true up bill. I am paperless, so I dont know what the notification looks like. I keep checking my plan, and its still DR. I dont want to miss it, but my true up is in December. JPM, I understand it can happen at any time, but just if there is correlation to true up, it may help me (and others) get thru the summer.

rwb1921, do you have your system on PVOutput?

For anything I added you're most welcome.

I'm also paperless but what I get looks just like what I got in via snail mail, but without the envelope good will stuffing.

I do not know if NEM SDG & E customers are treated differently than non NEM SDG & E customers. My guess is that SDG & E NEM 2.0 cust. are, for the most part, already on T.O.U. but I could sure be wrong on that. I'd also think a good %age of NEM 1.0 customers are still on tiered rates, but not all of them - maybe 50 % ?

SDG & E is saying "customers are being transitioned on a rolling basis", whatever that means, with ~ 750,000 cust. being transitioned by mid 2020.

Given what SDG & E knows about users energy use patterns - and that's a great deal - my guess is the rolling part of the selection process is B.S. or at least misleading in that the earliest transitioned customers will be the ones whose changeover to T.O.U. will enhance SDG & E's revenue the most. That's how I'd do it if I was SDG & E, so maybe NEM 1.0 folks who declined grandfathered T.O.U. rates in the past and stayed on tiered rates will get the opportunity to be the first to take it in the shorts this time around.

I'd call SDG & E and see what they have to say rather than wonder or guess or ask opinion from semi-anonymous posters like me who may be ill informed.

FWIW, I've found SDG & E to be semi helpful, depending on who answers the phone. Patience, professionalism and courtesy tend to go a long way, but some persistence is sometimes required.

[logdin]

Thank you rwb1921 and JPM. I have heard from a couple of other friends who receive paper bills, they observed their "Switch" notification with their true up bill. I am paperless, so I dont know what the notification looks like. I keep checking my plan, and its still DR. I dont want to miss it, but my true up is in December. JPM, I understand it can happen at any time, but just if there is correlation to true up, it may help me (and others) get thru the summer.

rwb1921, do you have your system on PVOutput?

[rwb1921]

Did this happen to occur during your True Up month? I'm trying to anticipate when I will get "the switch" notice, which I suspect will be rather obscure.

How apparent was this, and where did you have to look to see it? I need to decline their TOU plan and stick with DR tiered plan. Im a NEM 1.0 customer with install in 2013.

For me, this did coincide at the time of my Trueup on May 7th. No idea if this will be the same for everyone with solar.

[J.P.M.]

Did this happen to occur during your True Up month? I'm trying to anticipate when I will get "the switch" notice, which I suspect will be rather obscure.

How apparent was this, and where did you have to look to see it? I need to decline their TOU plan and stick with DR tiered plan. Im a NEM 1.0 customer with install in 2013.

Most all SDG & E residential customers (3/4 million or so) will be notified or have already received notification that they will be switched to T.O.U. billing. It has nothing to do with PV or NEM, or whether or not you have PV. It's part of the rate restructuring that began before AB 327 was passed & signed into law.

This is important: Most, but not all SDG & E residential customers not already on T.O.U. billing must make a positive election (that is, proactively state and notify SDG & E) of their intent and desire to remain on and otherwise keep their current billing arrangement - which is most likely schedule DR or tiered rates. Otherwise, they'll automatically be switched to T.O.U. billing. Since most residential customers are clueless about such matters, T.O.U will be forced down their throat and they'll never know it.

The changeover to most every residential SDG & E customer being on T.O.U. has already begun and will continue over the next 4-6 months or so, with customers being randomly notified, usually via their monthly statement. Users will need to play heads' up ball and stay sharp unless they want T.O.U. billing.

See the SDG & E website for details.

[logdin]

I just checked my SDGE account. They were going to switch me to TOU plan on May 7th. I had to go and cancel that change to TOU and say I wanted to stay on Standard DR Plan.

So you may want to check your account page on SDGE website. Also it said this commitment was for 1 year, so maybe have to each year choose to stay on Standard DR Plan if that is what I want to do. Need to be proactive on this it looks like. My change was successful in canceling the TOU change. This can all be done on the website.

Did this happen to occur during your True Up month? I'm trying to anticipate when I will get "the switch" notice, which I suspect will be rather obscure.

How apparent was this, and where did you have to look to see it? I need to decline their TOU plan and stick with DR tiered plan. Im a NEM 1.0 customer with install in 2013.

[logdin]

I just checked online and my Tiered Plan is ending May 6th for SDGE. See below. I have to make a choice online to stay on Standard Plan which I did now. I feel it will be best for now for my situation. Had I not done anything, they would have switched me to TOU Plan. See below for info from SDGE plan changes page. I am having to cancel the change to TOU now and may have to each year it appears. Commitment is for 1 year.


Your current pricing plan is changing to Time of Use (TOU-DR1) on May 07, 2019. Please see below to learn more about your pricing plan or compare other pricing plan options to choose the best plan for your energy needs.

My action:

Cancel Enrollment of Pending Pricing Plan

You have selected to cancel your new plan. You must review the information below and then agree to the terms and conditions (*required fields) to be re-enrolled in your old pricing plan.
Standard (DR) summary:

• Estimated Cost Per Year:
  $23 per year
  
  
  
  Your estimated cost is based on current approved rates, your past 12 months of electricity use for the selected meter, your choice of capacity reservation and any other information you may have provided. Actual costs may vary depending on rate changes and your actual electricity usage.

• 1 Year Commitment
  • This plan has a one-year commitment. At the end of one year, you can remain on the plan or choose a different plan.

• 1 Year No Risk Pricing - Not Available

• Details
  • Pricing based on how much electricity is used.
  • As you use more electricity, you cross into higher cost tiers.
  • Pricing does not change with time of day.
  • Includes baseline allowance.
  • Subject to High Usage Charge.

• This plan is for you if:
  • You can conserve to stay under the baseline allowance, or
  • You cannot shift some of your electricity use away from the on-peak hours of 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Cancel Enrollment of Pending Pricing Plan

You have successfully cancelled your pending plan and will stay on your current plan, Standard (DR).

Just curious.....Did this automatic TOU plan selection occur at True Up? I'm on the look out for "the switch", but being a NEM 1.0 and wanting to stay on tiered structure, need to know when to expect it, so I can decline TOU. If I'm qualified to be grandfathered for 20 years on DR, I plan to stay there. With having an EV, and receiving the generous annual $500 climate credit, I can go tier two for a month or two if the weather and the spouse require indoor temperatures to be comfortable.

[J.P.M.]

JPM- thanks for that! There are some rounding errors I'm sure (I'm not on a calendar month billing cycle) so I have to track things off my bill manually... this is how it has played out over the last 3 years:

Bill Date	Consumption	Generation	SDGE Billed - NEM 1.0
3/1/2016	619	696	77
4/4/2016	702	952	-250
5/4/2016	701	1020	-319
6/3/2016	773	955	-182
7/5/2016	1157	1141	16
8/3/2016	1499	1228	271
9/1/2016	1519	1104	415
10/3/2016	1135	862	273
11/2/2016	905	723	182
12/2/2016	588	416	172
1/4/2017	820	482	338
2/2/2017	707	451	256
3/6/2017	746	680	66
4/4/2017	744	916	-172
5/4/2017	780	1084	-304
6/5/2017	870	985	-115
7/5/2017	1039	1096	-57
8/3/2017	1594	1007	587
9/1/2017	1374	919	455
10/3/2017	1092	906	186
11/1/2017	1039	704	335
12/1/2017	795	497	298
1/3/2018	845	518	327
2/1/2018	692	485	207
3/5/2018	750	762	-12
4/3/2018	727	856	-129
5/2/2018	834	1118	-284
6/4/2018	845	979	-134
7/2/2018	865	1032	-167
8/2/2018	1590	951	639
8/31/2018	1301	909	392
10/1/2018	1066	752	314
10/31/2018	783	620	163
12/3/2018	813	567	246
1/3/2019	824	465	359
2/1/2019	702	461	241

I've only creeped into T2 4 times in 3 years (without solar, I was always in T2, and 2x/year would hit the "hi-use" tier, if it were implemented). I trued-up 1249 in 2016, 1813 in 2017, and 1628 in 2018.

When we installed, we knew we were going to have some loss - our roof only gets AM sun full, then it tapers in the PM and because of how the roof is laid out (flat but has a center stairwell for a deck, plus walls) it blocks late-day sun. My neighbors (it's a condo) who use the other side of the roof have the opposite problem.

My "best" day so far was 5/23/16 - it takes a while to get over the parapet wall, then there was probably some morning fog, and it trails off into the PM:

Annotation 2019-03-09 175559.jpg

Thank you for the updated info. From those #'s , it looks to me like you may be as well or better off staying in tiered rates, particularly as it looks like they'll be around for NEM 1.0 users who want them for up to 20 years, at least at this time. So it seems you're sitting in what looks like the catbird seat.

Glad someone (Ukiwis) finally got what looks like a straight and unambiguous answer.