San Diego Community Power lets eligible NEM customers choose annual generation billing, but the switch has a timing requirement and a 12-month commitment. Review it before your true-up so your household budget can accommodate both utility and solar-provider payments.
Official information checked November 5, 2026. This question concerns existing NEM accounts, not a new Solar Billing Plan enrollment.
When can you request the change?
SDCP’s NEM guidance says the annual option requires NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 service with an interconnection date before April 15, 2023. The request must occur at true-up, before Community Power has billed you. After switching, you cannot return to monthly billing for a full 12 months.
Use SDCP’s linked Annual True Up Application, and ask Community Power to confirm the applicable deadline and effective period for your account. Do not assume the calendar year-end is your true-up date.
SDCP defaults NEM customers to monthly billing. Annual billing applies generation charges and credits at true-up, allowing later net-generation months to offset earlier net-consumption months. Solar Billing Plan customers are billed monthly and cannot select this annual option.
Prepare a payment calendar
Before requesting a change, assemble a simple planning sheet:
- Your account’s confirmed billing arrangement and true-up date.
- Recent statements and the amounts actually paid.
- Expected utility payment dates and a household reserve for the eventual settlement.
- Separate solar-provider invoices and any battery fees.
For an illustrative budgeting exercise, setting aside $50 each month creates $600 over 12 months. That is a savings habit, not an estimate of your true-up or a claim that annual billing saves $600. Update the reserve as actual statements arrive.
For a separate explanation of year-end credit adjustments, see our NEM Balance Credit Refund guide.
Keep the two utility roles clear
Community Power’s bill guide explains that SDCP generation and SDG&E delivery appear on one SDG&E statement. SDCP’s generation charge replaces the corresponding SDG&E generation charge. SDG&E remains responsible for delivery, billing and grid outages.
Confirm your generation provider on the bill. SDCP serves San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, National City and unincorporated San Diego County; a county address alone does not establish enrollment.
Fit solar and battery payments into the same plan
A qualifying no-upfront solar-plus-battery PPA can help eligible homeowners access equipment while preserving cash. Under a PPA, the provider owns the solar system and charges for its electricity, as the CPUC solar guide explains. Review the rate, escalator, term, battery inclusion, maintenance and transfer terms. Include remaining utility charges; no upfront equipment purchase does not mean free electricity or guaranteed savings.
If considering storage, check SDCP’s Solar Battery Savings requirements separately. A billing preference does not reserve incentive funding or establish eligibility for a particular offer.
For outage protection, confirm backup-capable equipment, supported circuits, output limits and available charge. PG&E’s general storage guidance explains how load and reserve affect duration. Ordinary grid-tied solar alone generally does not supply outage power; recharging requires suitable sunlight and compatible equipment.
Bring your payment calendar and proposed agreement to the West Coast Alternatives homeowner journey. WCA is independent of SDCP; Community Power must confirm your account’s billing change.