Best PG&E Rate Plan

[Scrith]

I'll post pictures of a comparison of 2015 on E-6 vs. 2016 on EV-A next week (which will include data through Sept. 20, for now I only have it through Aug. 20).

I don't charge at work, but I do tend to charge at Superchargers when the opportunity presents itself (not the local one in San Mateo, but I use Gilroy, Fremont, Seaside, and Petaluma when on local day/weekend trips).

I highly recommend EV-A over E-6 if you tend to me conservative about usage at home during the peak hours (I have all LED lights and try to encourage that laundry be done on weekend mornings since we have an electric dryer). Charging of both cars is done via a single Chargepoint charger that has been configured to only charge during the EV-A low-cost hours (usually 11pm-7am on weekdays, and all but 3pm-7pm on weekends/holidays). We use very little energy aside from charging (and the dryer), so EV-A works very well for us (especially this year, which had an unusually cool summer in my opinion, so we never ended up using Air Conditioning).

 

[SFOTurtle]

And this is the balance that I think @SFOTurtle is overlooking. With EV-A, you choose a high peak rate in exchange for a fixed very low off-peak rate; this really benefits those of us who have the huge bulk of our consumption tied up in charging our cars. There are options for those who want a lower mid-day peak rate, but the compromise is different.

I think EV-A was at least partially thought up as a way to incentivize EV customers to time their charging after 11pm. PG&E wasn't counting on people (like me) with large arrays to sell at their peak. That flips the economics back to the consumer's favor.

I'm well aware of the tiers as I was on E-1 for a short while when I first got my MS and then E-6 for a while before jumping to EV-A. I understand that and the rationale for having rates higher during the middle of the day to discourage consumption. I'm not opposed to that.

All's I'm saying is that now that so many of us with EVs now have panels and our generating power during the middle of the day, then PG&E shouldn't really complain about having to pay us for that power at, or at least somewhat close, to what we would be charged for the same power. When I hear rumors that PG&E wants to either (1) cap net meter credit (not the true-up at the end of the year) at 10 cents/kWh or some other markedly lower amount or (2) start messing with the rate periods so that they can avoid having to pay us at the same very high rate they charge us, that makes we really edgy. If the demand isn't super high between 2 p.m and 4 p.m. on weekdays, then don't charge us 44 cents/kWh for that same period. And of course you can't tell me that there is any real justification for calling weekends between 4 and 7 p.m. truly "peak" at least for most of the year anyway. Perhaps partial peak at best for all but the very hottest days in summer, but that's just a money grab plain and simple. Of course with panels, I'm not as alarmed with the high weekend rate between 4 and 7 since we are typically generating a surplus in the summer months.

 

[Nosken]

Here is a great app I monitor to show me best rates, including EV-A and PowerWall.
My PG&E Toolkit by Ndili Technologies, Inc. https://appsto.re/us/axnSR.i

My PG&E Toolkit Lite by Ndili Technologies, Inc. https://appsto.re/us/gDEfS.i

 

[FlatSix911]

Here is a great app I monitor to show me best rates, including EV-A and PowerWall.

My PG&E Toolkit by Ndili Technologies, Inc. https://appsto.re/us/axnSR.i

My PG&E Toolkit Lite by Ndili Technologies, Inc. https://appsto.re/us/gDEfS.i

More details thanks

 

[Scrith]

Here's a picture of my output (3.95 kWp system with 13 SunPower X21-345 panels) on PG&E rate plan EV-A (this year) vs. E-6 (last year). Obviously I am doing MUCH better with EV-A. Most of my home's power (I'd say 80-90%) is consumed by two electric vehicles (which usually charge during the times with the lowest rate).

 

[Colby Boles]

Here's another (dated but relevant) opinion on west-facing solar.

Are Solar Panels Facing the Wrong Direction?

Our streets are at 45 degrees to the cardianal directions so the solar on our building is facing SW. I guess it wasn't as bad of a compromise as I thought.

 

[aesculus]

Our streets are at 45 degrees to the cardianal directions so the solar on our building is facing SW. I guess it wasn't as bad of a compromise as I thought.

I am actually thinking SW might be the best option anyway. It could help a bit with Winter production too.

 

[Merrill]

I am actually thinking SW might be the best option anyway. It could help a bit with Winter production too.

Mine are southwest because it was the only option I had, but I do get the afternoon sun til 5:30 or 6:00 until it goes down behind the trees. So peak production and peak per kWh coincide to a degree and gives me some nice deductions off my yearly bill. Still would be better with E7 which they kindly eliminated!