SDGE Billing Errors

[J.P.M.]

Hey, I need to have you come visit so I can discuss a very small off grid only setup for a barn 450 ft from the house. I plan on one panel to solar charge controller to charge a LiFePO4 battery, and then a 12V DC to 120 AC 1000 watt inverter to drive three high bay LED fixtures that will be only used zero (summer) to maybe 2 hours a day winter (morning / evening feed). Still waiting for grading and building permit.

Even at 450 ft., I'd run a line and call it done.

[CharlieEscCA]

Yea, I had him confused in my mind with Escondido Charlie.

My bad/brain fart. I apologize for my error.

J.P.M.

Hey, I need to have you come visit so I can discuss a very small off grid only setup for a barn 450 ft from the house. I plan on one panel to solar charge controller to charge a LiFePO4 battery, and then a 12V DC to 120 AC 1000 watt inverter to drive three high bay LED fixtures that will be only used zero (summer) to maybe 2 hours a day winter (morning / evening feed). Still waiting for grading and building permit.

[RichardCullip]

My SDG&E True-up bill came in as expected. No errors just one oddity. The SDG&E website billing info shows my 11 month bill, which I didn't have to pay as it was before my True-up date, as past due. The 12 month actual True-up bill cleared up that minor confusion and there was no past due charge. Due to some over production, SDG&E owes me $1.78. Not bad for a 12 month total electric bill.

[J.P.M.]

I think Richard is in Poway. I'm by the airport in Banker's Hill

Yea, I had him confused in my mind with Escondido Charlie.

My bad/brain fart. I apologize for my error.

J.P.M.

[RichardCullip]

I think Richard is in Poway. I'm by the airport in Banker's Hill

Yes, I'm on the western edge of Poway just one block from Rancho Bernardo. My yearly true up is April 14th and I'm hoping for a bill that doesn't have any errors.

[UkiwiS]

A BTW and FWIW, If I stand on my roof and use binoculars, I can see your house. The airport we know about is almost on a straight line about midway between our locations.

I think Richard is in Poway. I'm by the airport in Banker's Hill

[J.P.M.]

Thanks. I hope mine comes the same way next week.

A BTW and FWIW, If I stand on my roof and use binoculars, I can see your house. The airport we know about is almost on a straight line about midway between our locations.

[RichardCullip]

Short answer is yes. The bill arrived today and it appears normal. That is, all the numbers match what I've used and recorded and all the numbers add/subtract and make sense.

Thanks. I hope mine comes the same way next week.

[J.P.M.]

I'm curious about your current bill. Did it appear normal (correct)?

Short answer is yes. The bill arrived today and it appears normal. That is, all the numbers match what I've used and recorded and all the numbers add/subtract and make sense.

[RichardCullip]

I'm w/ SDG & E on NEM 1.0 and still on tiered rates. My current billing closes 04/07. I'll advise if anything unusual shows up.

I'm curious about your current bill. Did it appear normal (correct)?

[UkiwiS]

Sounds like what I was writing about their knowledgeability being hit/missy.
When I've asked a question the folks could not immediately answer, they have indeed responded, but FWIW, it was closer to 2 weeks rather than one.
When on hold, I've used the callback function a couple of times and it seemed to work as I recall.
Just ask for a written response (e-mail).

Yep, I did that the first time but when that CS Rep passed me on, there was no callback option.....I would have selected it in a heartbeat.

[J.P.M.]

I had trouble getting through to someone that understood what I was talking about even though I thought I was getting through to the correct dept. That person put me through to a PV specialist but I had to wait on hold for 30+ minutes. She said it looked like there was a problem on the billing side and sent through a request for billing to look into it and issue a revised bill. She said it would take up to a week. I'll report back when I hear back.

Sounds like what I was writing about their knowledgeability being hit/missy.
When I've asked a question the folks could not immediately answer, they have indeed responded, but FWIW, it was closer to 2 weeks rather than one.
When on hold, I've used the callback function a couple of times and it seemed to work as I recall.
Just ask for a written response (e-mail).

[UkiwiS]

So, what did the folks @ SDG & E say when you called them ?

I had trouble getting through to someone that understood what I was talking about even though I thought I was getting through to the correct dept. That person put me through to a PV specialist but I had to wait on hold for 30+ minutes. She said it looked like there was a problem on the billing side and sent through a request for billing to look into it and issue a revised bill. She said it would take up to a week. I'll report back when I hear back.

[J.P.M.]

-181 kWh probably is the equavalent of a $62.54 credit so it looks like the previous credit was simply wiped and reset to zero. If anyone is in the same boat, the phone number for SDGE is 800-411-7343, option 1, then option 5 to speak to a someone at SDGE that is knowledgable about Solar. Not sure why they cannot print that on the Bill since they know which of us is Solar.

So, what did the folks @ SDG & E say when you called them ?

Sometimes a rate change that takes effect during the prior billing period screws things up for the next 1 - 2 subsequent periods. The rates changed 03/01/2021.
That happened to me once.

Or, it appears that one error on the billing was that while they got the -164 kWh of excess generation, that $$ credit for it didn't show up. Maybe the rate change had something to do with it.

BTW, while the folks answering questions are well meaning and try hard, and not meant as a knock, their individual knowledgeability about PV is a bit of hit/miss.

When they resolve your situation, ask (politely) for a written confirmation of what they tell you. Been there, done that.

I'm w/ SDG & E on NEM 1.0 and still on tiered rates. My current billing closes 04/07. I'll advise if anything unusual shows up.

[RichardCullip]

I hope SDG&E gets the bugs out of the new billing system soon. I'm coming up for my true-up in about a week.