A PG&E homeowner comparing a new solar-plus-battery PPA should ask the proposal to show expected grid imports, not just annual solar production. One reason is non-bypassable charges: under the Solar Billing Plan, these charges depend on electricity taken from the grid even when the home also exports solar electricity.
A battery can help a suitable home use more of its own solar energy later. Understanding the bill makes that benefit easier to evaluate alongside ongoing PPA payments. Sources were checked September 25, 2026.
Confirm which solar tariff applies
PG&E's Solar Billing Plan overview distinguishes the current plan from older Net Energy Metering arrangements. Check your account or proposed interconnection terms before applying a billing example. This article addresses the Solar Billing Plan, also called the Net Billing Tariff or NBT; it is not a calculation guide for an existing NEM account.
Ask the provider to name the utility plan used in its estimate. A private PPA price and a utility rate schedule serve different purposes and should both appear in the comparison.
Imports determine the charge basis
PG&E's NBT tariff, Sheet 17, section 2.f says non-bypassable charges apply to each kilowatt-hour consumed from the grid, using the meter's import channel. Ordinary export credits cannot reduce those listed charges. The tariff expressly allows an exception for ACC Plus credits, so “no credit can ever offset them” would be too broad.
For a hypothetical billing period with 240 kWh imported and 200 kWh exported, the import quantity used for these charges is 240 kWh, not the 40 kWh difference. The exports still have their separate billing treatment. This example identifies the energy quantity only; it does not quote a current charge rate or calculate the total bill.
Non-bypassable charges are also distinct from the Base Services Charge. Our PG&E base-charge guide explains that separate part of the bill.
Ask how the battery changes imports
PG&E's storage guidance describes storing solar energy for later use. When stored solar supplies a household load that would otherwise require grid electricity, it can reduce imports. That is different from exporting electricity and receiving a credit afterward.
Our recommendation is to request two modeled import profiles for the same household: solar alone and the proposed solar-plus-battery configuration. Have the provider explain assumptions about daily consumption, battery losses, operating settings and any permitted grid charging. Charging a battery from the grid is still an import; moving that electricity to another hour does not turn it into onsite solar production.
Evaluate the complete bill and equipment cost. A smaller import quantity is useful information, but by itself it does not prove that a particular battery or PPA saves money.
Keep an outage reserve in the comparison
Storage used for everyday bill management also needs a clear backup plan. Ask the provider how its financial model accounts for the charge you want available during an outage. Supported circuits, starting charge and simultaneous demand limit backup; suitable sunlight and compatible equipment are needed for solar recharge. Do not treat a savings estimate as a runtime guarantee.
Review the full PPA payment picture
The CPUC solar consumer guide explains provider ownership and payments for generated electricity under a PPA. A qualifying no-upfront offer can provide access to solar without an initial equipment purchase, while ongoing payments remain.
Confirm the rate, escalator, term, eligibility, battery inclusion and ownership, installation scope, maintenance, replacement and transfer provisions. Combine those payments with the modeled remaining utility bill, including charges that ordinary exports cannot offset.
Bring your PG&E bill and proposed import estimate to West Coast Alternatives' homeowner journey for a comparison based on your home's needs. No upfront purchase does not mean free electricity, universal suitability or guaranteed savings.