California
PG&E Bill and Solar: 5 Numbers to Check Before You Get a Quote
Use this PG&E bill checklist to understand your electricity use, time-of-use costs, and solar questions before requesting an installer proposal.
Quick answer
Before using a solar estimate, collect 12 months of PG&E electricity use in kilowatt-hours, your rate plan, your recent bill history, and your likely future electric loads. A dollar total alone is not enough to size a system or judge a savings claim.
1. Find your electric usage in kilowatt-hours
Your bill total includes more than the electricity a solar system might offset. PG&E identifies kilowatt-hours (kWh) as the unit used to measure electricity use, while a bill can also include fixed charges, taxes, credits, and other programs. For a solar screening estimate, annual kWh usage is more useful than one month’s dollar amount.
Start with a full 12 months if possible. That avoids sizing a system from one unusually hot, cold, or high-use month. PG&E’s account tools can show usage trends by day, week, month, and year, and eligible customers can download detailed usage data from their account.
2. Check your rate plan and when you use power
A solar proposal should name the utility rate plan it assumes. Time-of-use pricing means electricity can cost different amounts at different times, so two households with the same monthly kWh can have different bills and different solar value. Your bill identifies the rate plan and shows usage information for the billing period.
Look for predictable evening demand such as cooking, cooling, EV charging, or pool equipment. Solar production is strongest during daylight hours, so a proposal should explain how much production is expected to be used in the home versus sent to the grid.
3. Separate solar production from bill savings
Production is the estimated electricity a solar system generates. Savings are the estimated change to your utility spending. They are related but not identical: roof shade, orientation, household timing, rate plan, fixed charges, and export credits can all change the bill result.
The California Public Utilities Commission says bill-savings estimates are educated guesses. Treat a fast online calculator as an honest starting range, then ask an installer to show the annual production, utility tariff, export-credit assumption, and full price in writing.
4. Understand the Solar Billing Plan before comparing quotes
For newer California systems in the major investor-owned utility territories, export credits can differ from the retail price paid for electricity. The CPUC calls this the Solar Billing Plan, also known as the Net Billing Tariff. That makes self-consuming solar energy during the day an important part of a realistic estimate.
A battery may shift some daytime production to evening use, but it adds its own equipment and installation cost. Ask for separate solar-only and solar-plus-battery scenarios instead of accepting a single blended payback claim.
5. Bring the right questions to every installer
A useful proposal does not rely only on a monthly payment. Compare the same facts from each company: cash price, financed total, system size in kW, annual production in kWh, panel and inverter models, roof layout, warranty terms, and the rate/export assumptions behind any projected savings.
California’s consumer-protection guide warns against claims that solar is free or that it will always erase the electricity bill. Do not sign under pressure; request a copy of the full contract and disclosure documents, then compare the inputs before deciding.
- Twelve months of electricity use in kWh
- Current PG&E rate plan and recent bill history
- Expected new loads: EV, heat pump, pool, addition, or battery
- Cash price and complete financing cost—not just payment
- Estimated annual solar kWh, shade assumptions, and export-credit assumption
Research and review
Reviewed for plain-language accuracy, source links, and consistency with SolarSavings calculator assumptions.
Reviewed by SolarSavings.energy Research Desk
Last reviewed August 13, 2026
This is educational content, not tax, legal, engineering, or financial advice. Confirm current incentives, tariffs, and contract terms with the relevant provider or qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
Can I estimate solar from my PG&E bill?
Yes, as a screening step. Use a year of electricity usage in kWh and your rate plan when possible. An online result cannot inspect roof condition, shade, electrical equipment, or your exact utility tariff.
Will solar remove my entire PG&E bill?
Usually not. Utility charges, rate rules, and the timing of your household electricity use can leave a remaining bill. Treat claims of a guaranteed zero bill with caution.
Why does a PG&E solar proposal need an export-credit assumption?
Electricity used in your home and electricity exported to the grid may have different value under the applicable billing rules. A credible proposal names the tariff and explains that assumption.
Primary sources
This guide was written for homeowners and reviewed against the following government and research resources. Programs and utility rules can change, so verify current details before making a financial decision.