What is the best setting to run your powerwalls

[jrweiss98020]

Honestly do not know, how would I find out is it on the bill. I’m NEM1 E6 tou.

Looks like there's not a lot of difference in the winter, but you should get into the time-of-use section of the Tesla app and set it up so you use the powerwalls and solar as much as possible during the peak hours. It also makes sense to keep a high reserve (75%?) in case of grid outages.

 

[h2ofun]

For normal SGIP (non resiliency), customers need to assess their production and usage trends to make sure to cycle their Powerwall. The Tesla App should alert folks if they are falling behind on sufficient cycles. And of course they can hope the SGIP doesn't enforce the cycling.

Basically you may need each Powerwall to charge / discharge 687 kWh per year. This is just shy of 2 kWh per day so it should be reasonably achievable unless you permanently set your Powerwall to be 100 % backup all the time.

The language below is from Tesla. It is a bit confusing since it says a Powerwall needs to "fully charge and discharge." But this isn't true... it doesn't have to go from 0% to 100% 52 times. It simply needs to charge discharge the equivalent amount of the thing going from 0% to 100% and back to 0% 52 times. For a single Powerwall under the small-scale residential program, this is 687 kWh per year.

I think even if you got your Powerwall through Resiliency or Equity (low income) you may have to do the cycling. You may need to contact the SGIP administrators to confirm since you have solar.


Energy Incentives | Powerwall Support


SGIP Program Requirements
The goal of the SGIP program is to reduce load on the grid and reduce greenhouse gas usage. In order to participate in the program, SGIP requires you to use Powerwall to help the program meet this goal. Powerwall must meet a ‘cycling’ requirement where Powerwall will need to fully charge and discharge at least 52 times, or 687 kWh, per year.

Tesla has designed Powerwall to comply with these requirements with little impact to customers.

SGIP prohibits energy storage systems from being used solely for backup purposes. The system must “cycle” (charge and discharge on a regular basis) to meet some of your onsite electrical needs.

You can adjust the backup reserve or use Backup-Only for times when you are concerned about the power (for example during storms), but for day-to-day operation, you will need to use Self-Powered or Time-Based Control to meet the SGIP requirements.

I keep getting different answers on the SGIP stuff. I guess if I get batteries, I shall find out.

 

[getakey]

That is what I thought but so far it is not happening.

Time to call Tesla

 

[arnolddeleon]

Thanks for all the info, I did get the SGIP Resilience incentive. What about just leaving it in the backup mode.

The earlier SGIP required a minimum annual discharge. The resiliency program may have different rules. The original requirements were pretty modest, easily met by cost saving during the summer.

 

[Merrill]

Merry Christmas to all, so this morning I have the time based controls and since in the winter there is partial peak Monday thru Friday from 5 to 8pm and all other times are off peak I set the Powerwalls to power the house during the partial peak period. Wondering if that makes sense.

 

[getakey]

Merry Christmas to all, so this morning I have the time based controls and since in the winter there is partial peak Monday thru Friday from 5 to 8pm and all other times are off peak I set the Powerwalls to power the house during the partial peak period. Wondering if that makes sense.

The question is whether your solar is charging your PWs. You posted that it was not

 

[Merrill]

The question is whether your solar is charging your PWs. You posted that it was not

Yes, the installer is coming Monday he seem to know what needs to be done. Once it is working correctly what do you think.

 

[getakey]

Yes, the installer is coming Monday he seem to know what needs to be done. Once it is working correctly what do you think.

Why is it that you don't have Peak rates? I would agree to run house off PWs during partial peak if you don't have peak, but savings is small.
I would have thought you would be moved to a different rate plan when you installed the PWs

 

[Merrill]

Why is it that you don't have Peak rates? I would agree to run house off PWs during partial peak if you don't have peak, but savings is small.
I would have thought you would be moved to a different rate plan when you installed the PWs

On E6 in the winter there are no peak rates, it another story in the summer and the system was just installed Wednesday so PG&E will probably move me.

 

[h2ofun]

Why is it that you don't have Peak rates? I would agree to run house off PWs during partial peak if you don't have peak, but savings is small.
I would have thought you would be moved to a different rate plan when you installed the PWs

on touc the difference between peak and non peak is 2 cents.i have no pws yet

 

[Merrill]

on touc the difference between peak and non peak is 2 cents.i have no pws yet

In the summer the peak in .41 and off peak is .21 in the winter no peak so you have partial peak and off peak about 2 cents difference.

 

[getakey]

In the summer the peak in .41 and off peak is .21 in the winter no peak so you have partial peak and off peak about 2 cents difference.

Probably not worth it to run house off PWs in the winter as you lose 10% going through PWs. However, your rate schedule is probably going to change

 

[Merrill]

Probably not worth it to run house off PWs in the winter as you lose 10% going through PWs. However, your rate schedule is probably going to change

That makes sense so what setting should I have the Powerwalls on.

 

[getakey]

That makes sense so what setting should I have the Powerwalls on.

I'd go Backup

 

[Merrill]

I'd go Backup

Thanks for your help, have a nice holiday.

 

[getakey]

Thanks for your help, have a nice holiday.

You too. We hope to go to Healdsburg in late January if this Covid dies down. We miss going up there. Envy you living in that area

 

[Merrill]

You too. We hope to go to Healdsburg in late January if this Covid dies down. We miss going up there. Envy you living in that area

Let hope that happens, lots of great restaurants in that area. Bravas de Tapas, Valette, Willi’s, Barndiva are some of my favorites.

 

[getakey]

Yeah. Bravas, Barndiva and Willi's plus Mateos are our favs. We have yet to go to Valette

 

[miimura]

@Merrill You need to be aware that PG&E is changing the E-6 Rate Schedule. By the time Summer season starts up again in 2021 it won't be 6 months (May-Oct) of 1-7PM Peak like it was before, it will be 4 months (June-Sept) of 3-8pm. Summer 2022 will be 4-9pm. This will seriously cut into your Peak NEM credits.

 

[Merrill]

@Merrill You need to be aware that PG&E is changing the E-6 Rate Schedule. By the time Summer season starts up again in 2021 it won't be 6 months (May-Oct) of 1-7PM Peak like it was before, it will be 4 months (June-Sept) of 3-8pm. Summer 2022 will be 4-9pm. This will seriously cut into your Peak NEM credits.

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Thanks I’m aware of this and going to add to my solar array next month.