GOING SOLAR?
THEN YOU’LL WANT TO
CONNECT WITH US.
Solar Energy | Applying for Interconnection and Net Energy Metering
Once you have met with your contractor and selected
the appropriate solar energy system for your home or
business, the next step is to request interconnection to
SCE’s electric grid and to enroll in one of the available
Net Energy Metering tariff programs.
Having your system interconnected helps ensure you
have access to power during those periods when your
system is not producing enough electricity for your
property (in the evening, for example). Plus, whenever
your system generates more energy than your household
can use, you’ll receive credit for the excess energy
generated and sent back to the electric grid.
NEM is a special rate option that provides you full retail
value for the electricity that is generated and credits you
for the surplus energy you generate.
Solar systems
convert energy
from sunlight
Utility pole/
into electricity.
distribution line
Inverter
NEM
The energy is used in your home or business. Excess energy not used
by your home goes back to the power network. When your solar system
doesn’t produce enough energy, you’ll receive it from us as you always have.
The inverter converts the electricity produced by the solar system from
direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) for use in your home or
business and measures the energy produced by the solar system.
How Net Energy Metering Works
The NEM program uses a bi-directional meter to track
the “net” difference in kilowatt hours (kWh) between
the amount of excess electricity you produce and the
amount of electricity you consume on a time-of-use basis
during each billing period. Each month, you will be either
a net consumer or a net generator of electricity.
For instance, if during the month your household
consumed 500 kWh of energy from the power network,
and supplied 200 kWh, you would be a net consumer
and would be charged for 300 kWh (i.e., 500 kWh minus
200k Wh).
Conversely, if in a given month you supplied more
electricity to the power network than your household
consumed, you are considered a net generator for the
month and will be credited for the amount of electricity
(kWh) supplied to our power network less the amount
supplied by us.
For example, if your household consumed 500 kWh but
supplied 700 kWh to the power network, you would be
credited with 200 kWh. Credits appear as a negative
number on your bill (e.g. –200k Wh).
Net Consumer Net Generator
500 kWh Consumed 700 kWh Supplied
– 200 kWh Supplied – 500 kWh Consumed
300 kWh Charged – 200 kWh Credit
