Question 1

What is solar energy?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy is power generated by converting sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on your roof or property. It is a clean, renewable energy source that can dramatically reduce or eliminate your monthly electric bill. In California, abundant sunshine makes solar one of the most cost-effective home energy investments available.

Question 2

How do solar panels work?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells made of silicon that absorb photons from sunlight and release electrons, creating a direct current (DC) of electricity. An inverter then converts that DC power into alternating current (AC) that your home appliances use. Any excess energy your panels produce is sent back to the grid, and your utility credits you for it through a program called net metering.

Question 3

What is net metering (NEM)?

Accepted Answer

Net metering (NEM) is a billing arrangement with your utility that lets you earn credits when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses. Those credits offset the power you draw from the grid at night or on cloudy days. In California, NEM 2.0 credited solar owners at full retail rate, while the newer NEM 3.0 (also called Net Billing Tariff) credits at a lower avoided-cost rate, making battery storage more important.

Question 4

What is a PG&E True-Up?

Accepted Answer

The PG&E True-Up is your annual settlement statement that calculates the net difference between the energy your solar system exported to the grid and the energy you consumed over a 12-month billing cycle. If you used more than you produced, you owe the balance. If you produced more, you may receive a small credit. Understanding your True-Up is critical for optimizing your solar investment and avoiding surprise bills.

Question 5

Why do I still have a bill with solar?

Accepted Answer

Even with solar panels, most homeowners still receive a monthly bill from PG&E that includes minimum delivery charges (typically $10-15/month) and any energy consumed beyond what your panels produced. If your system was undersized, your usage increased (EV, pool, etc.), or panels are underperforming due to shading or dirt, your bill could be higher than expected. Reviewing your monitoring data is the first step to diagnosing the issue.

Question 6

How much can I save with solar?

Accepted Answer

The average California homeowner saves $50,000 to $150,000 over 25 years by going solar, depending on their bill size and utility rate increases. With PG&E rates climbing roughly 7% per year, solar locks in your energy cost and protects you from decades of escalating prices. Use our Savings Calculator tool for a personalized estimate based on your actual monthly bill.

Question 7

What are TOU rates?

Accepted Answer

Time-of-Use (TOU) rates mean the price you pay for electricity changes depending on the time of day. PG&E charges the most during peak hours (4pm-9pm) when demand is highest and solar production is declining. Off-peak hours (overnight) are cheapest. Understanding TOU rates helps solar owners optimize when they use heavy appliances and whether a battery makes financial sense.

Question 8

What is the difference between NEM 2.0 and NEM 3.0?

Accepted Answer

NEM 2.0 credited solar owners at or near the full retail rate for excess energy sent to the grid, making it highly favorable for solar-only systems. NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff), which took effect in April 2023, credits exports at a much lower rate based on avoided cost, reducing the value of grid exports by roughly 75%. This makes battery storage essential for NEM 3.0 customers to maximize savings by storing daytime production for evening use.

Question 9

How do I view my solar system monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Most solar systems come with a monitoring app or portal from your inverter manufacturer (Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla, etc.). You can typically access it through a mobile app or web browser to see real-time production, daily/monthly energy generation, and individual panel performance. If you have a TSU Monitoring account, you can also view your data through our unified dashboard.

Question 10

I was never set up with monitoring — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

If your installer never configured monitoring, the first step is to identify your inverter brand (check the equipment on your wall or roof). Then visit the manufacturer website to create an account and register your system using the serial number on the inverter. If you need help, The Solar University offers free monitoring setup guidance. Many homeowners discover production issues only after setting up monitoring for the first time.

Question 11

What inverter brands are supported?

Accepted Answer

The most common residential inverter brands are Enphase (microinverters), SolarEdge (string inverter with optimizers), and Tesla. Other brands include SMA, Fronius, and Generac. Each has its own monitoring platform and app. TSU Monitoring supports data from Enphase, SolarEdge, and Tesla, with more integrations coming soon.

Question 12

How to find where my home is bleeding power

Accepted Answer

The biggest energy drains in most homes are HVAC systems, electric water heaters, old pool pumps, and inefficient appliances. Start by checking your utility usage history for unusual spikes. Installing a whole-home energy monitor like the Emporia Vue can show you exactly which circuits are drawing power. Our Energy Efficiency tool can also help you estimate where your kWh are going based on your appliances.

Question 13

What appliances use the most energy?

Accepted Answer

In a typical California home, HVAC (heating and cooling) accounts for 40-50% of electricity usage. Electric water heaters, pool pumps (single-speed), EV chargers, and electric dryers are the next biggest consumers. Even old refrigerators and incandescent lighting add up. Switching to heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, variable-speed pool pumps, and 100% LED lighting can cut usage by 30-50%.

Question 14

Should I switch to a heat pump?

Accepted Answer

Heat pumps are significantly more efficient than traditional AC units and gas furnaces because they transfer heat rather than generating it. In California climates, heat pumps can handle both heating and cooling at 2-3x the efficiency of conventional systems. If your HVAC is over 15 years old, upgrading to a heat pump can reduce your energy bills substantially, and federal/state rebates can offset a significant portion of the cost.

Question 15

What is Pioneer Community Energy (CCA)?

Accepted Answer

Pioneer Community Energy is a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) serving parts of Placer County and surrounding areas in Northern California. CCAs purchase power on behalf of customers while PG&E still delivers it through their grid infrastructure. If you are in a CCA territory, your generation charges come from the CCA while transmission and delivery charges still come from PG&E. This can affect how your solar credits are calculated.

Question 16

How do I read my PG&E bill?

Accepted Answer

A PG&E bill has several key sections: the summary page shows your total charges and credits, the detail page breaks down generation, transmission, and delivery charges by TOU period. For solar customers, look for the "Net Energy Charges" section to see how much energy you exported vs. imported. The "True-Up" section shows your running annual balance. Understanding these sections helps you verify your solar system is performing as expected.

Question 17

What is Green Button data?

Accepted Answer

Green Button data is a standardized format for downloading your detailed energy usage history from your utility. PG&E customers can access it by logging into pge.com, navigating to "Your Account," and clicking "Download My Data." This data includes 15-minute or hourly interval usage, which is invaluable for sizing a solar system correctly, analyzing TOU patterns, and identifying energy waste in your home.

Question 18

What is TSU Monitoring?

Accepted Answer

TSU Monitoring is The Solar University's unified solar monitoring platform that connects to your existing inverter system (Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla) and provides a simplified dashboard showing your production, consumption, and savings in one place. It includes alerts for underperformance, monthly report cards, and AI-powered recommendations to help you maximize your solar investment.

Question 19

Is The Solar University free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, The Solar University is free for all solar homeowners. Our mission is to educate and empower solar owners with the tools, knowledge, and transparency they deserve. Free features include educational guides, solar calculators, the AI Solar Advisor, and community access. TSU Monitoring and advanced features may offer premium tiers in the future, but core education will always be free.

Question 20

How does the AI Solar Advisor work?

Accepted Answer

The AI Solar Advisor is a conversational tool that answers your solar questions using data from your system monitoring, PG&E rate structures, and industry best practices. You can ask it questions about your bill, production, True-Up, or general solar topics and receive personalized answers. It does not make sales pitches or recommendations to buy products — it simply helps you understand and optimize your solar investment.

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