PG&E NEM 3.0 (Solar Billing Plan) & E-ELEC Rate Matrix Analysis
Complete engineering and financial breakdown of PG&E’s NEM 3.0 Solar Billing Plan and E-ELEC rate schedule: why midday solar exports earn just 2.5¢–4.5¢/kWh while 4 PM–9 PM imports cost up to 64¢/kWh—making a 13.5kWh–28.6kWh LFP battery mandatory.
1. 24-Hour Import Cost vs. Export Credit Visualizer
Schedule: NBT (Net Billing Tariff) / E-ELEC Electrification TOUCompare what Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) charges you to import 1 kWh vs. what they pay you when you export 1 kWh during each time window—and how your battery inverter should be programmed:
2. Forensic Tariff & Battery Arbitrage Math
- 1Solar-Only Tragedy under PG&E NEM 3.0: A 10 kW solar array without a battery exports ~65% of its daytime generation between 10 AM and 3 PM for ~3.2¢/kWh ($250/year), then buys that exact same electricity back between 4 PM and 9 PM at 58¢/kWh ($3,400/year).
- 2Battery Self-Consumption Arbitrage: Pairing a 14.3 kWh to 28.6 kWh LFP battery captures 12 to 20 kWh of midday solar every day and shifts it into the 4 PM–9 PM Peak window—saving 55¢/kWh net spread ($3,100 to $4,200/year in avoided PG&E charges).
- 3September ACC Grid Export Jackpot: Under the CPUC Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC), exporting stored battery kWh to PG&E between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM in September pays $1.85 to $3.12 per kWh—allowing a dual-battery system to generate $600–$950 in export credits in a single month.
EG4 18kPV + 2x 14.3kWh PowerPro WallMount (28.6 kWh) or EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra
Estimated Payback under NBT (Net Billing Tariff) / E-ELEC Electrification TOU: 4.6 – 5.4 Years (at PG&E E-ELEC rates)
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Solar Tariff FAQ
Why does PG&E require the E-ELEC rate schedule for all new NEM 3.0 solar customers?
Under CPUC Decision 22-12-056, all new PG&E Net Billing Tariff (NEM 3.0) customers must enroll in the E-ELEC rate schedule, which includes a $15/month fixed base charge and strong peak/off-peak differentials designed to incentivize home battery storage and heat pumps.
Can I add panels to my existing PG&E NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0 system without getting kicked into NEM 3.0?
You can add up to 10% of your original approved system capacity (or 1 kW, whichever is greater) under standard PG&E rules without losing NEM 2.0 grandfathering, OR install a "Non-Export" independent solar + battery subsystem isolated from grid backfeed.