SDG&E Rate Plans Compared: Which One Is Right for Solar Homeowners in 2026?

If you have solar (or you’re adding solar) in San Diego, your SDG&E rate plan is not a background detail. It’s the “rules of the game” that determines whether your solar energy saves you the most money, when your bill spikes, and how valuable a battery can be.

In 2026, SDG&E’s residential choices for solar households generally fall into three buckets:

1. Standard TOU plans most households use
2. EV and electrification TOU plans built around overnight charging and super off-peak pricing
3. Solar-specific plan options designed for certain NEM customers

This guide compares the most relevant plans, explains who each one fits, and gives you a plain-English way to choose based on your home’s usage pattern and your solar billing status.

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Step 1: Know which “solar billing world” you are in

Before comparing plans, identify which solar billing structure applies to you, because it can limit (or strongly influence) plan choice.

Solar Billing Plan (SBP / Net Billing Tariff)

SDG&E states that Solar Billing Plan customers are on the EVTOU5 pricing plan.
If you are a newer solar customer under SBP, you typically do not “shop” rate plans the same way legacy customers do. EV-TOU-5 is the default framework, and your strategy becomes about using more energy during super off-peak periods and avoiding 4–9 p.m..

Legacy NEM customers (often called NEM 1.0 / NEM 2.0)

Legacy customers often have more flexibility and may have additional plan options. SDG&E’s pricing plan page includes a solar-oriented plan called DR-SES, described as designed to give NEM customers with solar an additional plan option and potentially suitable for systems that overgenerate.

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Step 2: Understand the TOU time windows that drive everything

No matter which plan you choose, SDG&E’s most important windows stay consistent:

• On-Peak: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (weekdays, weekends, and holidays)
• Super Off-Peak: shows up on certain plans and includes overnight plus a midday block that SDG&E now lists as 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (weekdays) on schedules that include super off-peak

The big picture is simple:

• If you buy a lot of grid power from 4–9 p.m., you pay the most.
• If you can shift usage into super off-peak, you pay the least.
• Solar alone helps, but a battery helps most when it reduces those 4–9 p.m. imports.

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The plans solar homeowners compare most in 2026

Plan 1: TOU-DR1 (the standard residential TOU plan)

SDG&E describes TOU-DR1 as one of the most common residential TOU plans, with three pricing periods and peak pricing from 4–9 p.m.

Best for

• Solar homeowners who can use a meaningful amount of electricity outside 4–9 p.m.
• Homes without heavy overnight EV charging needs
• Households that want a “standard” plan that is widely used and straightforward

How you win on TOU-DR1

• Shift flexible loads to super off-peak windows (overnight, and midday where applicable)
• Reduce evening consumption from 4–9 p.m.

Who should be cautious

• Homes with heavy evening HVAC use (late afternoon cooling that spills into 4–9 p.m.)
• EV households that regularly charge in the evening instead of overnight

If you want the exact 2026 TOU-DR1 total rate table (including the base services charge shown on the table), SDG&E publishes it as a PDF effective 1/1/2026.

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Plan 2: EV-TOU-5 (EV and electrification plan, and Solar Billing Plan default)

SDG&E’s pricing plan page describes EV-TOU-5 as best for customers who can charge EVs overnight and/or are on the Solar Billing Plan, with three pricing periods and peak pricing from 4–9 p.m.

Best for

• Solar Billing Plan customers (because SDG&E places SBP customers on EVTOU5)
• EV households that can reliably charge overnight
• Homes that can shift big loads to super off-peak periods

How you win on EV-TOU-5

• Make overnight charging automatic (scheduled charging)
• Move dishwasher, laundry, pool pumps, and similar loads into super off-peak blocks
• If you have a battery, use it to cover 4–9 p.m. and preserve cheap charging windows

Who should be cautious

• EV households that frequently need to “top off” during 4–9 p.m.
• Homes that cannot shift much usage away from evenings

For the official EV-TOU-5 total rates table effective 1/1/2026, SDG&E publishes the PDF.

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Plan 3: DR-SES (solar-specific option for certain NEM customers)

SDG&E lists DR-SES on its Total Electric Rates page and describes it as designed to give NEM customers with solar an additional plan option, potentially appropriate for solar systems that overgenerate.

Best for

• Some legacy NEM customers whose systems export a lot (especially midday overgeneration)
• Households that benefit from a plan tailored to solar export behavior (as SDG&E positions it)

Why it exists

• It gives certain solar customers another TOU structure to align exports and imports more favorably depending on their generation pattern and annual true-up outcomes.

How you win on DR-SES

• Understand your export profile (when you export the most)
• Shift loads into super off-peak periods (which SDG&E lists for DR-SES, including the midday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. super off-peak block)

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A practical decision guide

Choose EV-TOU-5 if any of these are true

• You are on the Solar Billing Plan (this is the default rate plan SDG&E states SBP customers are on)
• You charge an EV at home and can schedule charging overnight
• You want the strongest incentive to push usage into super off-peak hours

Choose TOU-DR1 if these are true

• You are not required to be on EV-TOU-5
• You do not have heavy EV charging needs
• You can shift usage away from 4–9 p.m. reasonably well
• You want a standard plan with clear TOU structure

Consider DR-SES if these are true

• You are a legacy NEM customer
• Your solar system tends to overgenerate and you want a solar-specific plan option SDG&E positions for that use case

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The two mistakes that cost solar homeowners the most

Mistake 1: Optimizing for total kWh instead of timing

Two homes can use the same monthly kWh and have very different bills depending on how much of that usage lands in 4–9 p.m.. SDG&E’s TOU tables make it clear that this window is the premium-priced period.

Mistake 2: Buying an EV plan, then charging during peak

EV-TOU-5 rewards overnight charging. If the EV is frequently charged in the evening, the plan’s intent is undermined and the bill can get ugly.

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Where a battery changes the “best plan” conversation

A battery doesn’t magically lower rates. It reduces the amount of energy you buy during the expensive hours by shifting your own energy (solar or off-peak energy) into the evening window.

Batteries are most valuable when:

• you have meaningful consumption from 4–9 p.m.
• you export a lot of midday solar (and would rather store it for evening use)
• you have an EV and want to protect cheap charging hours by avoiding peak imports

This is why many solar households stop thinking in “panel count” terms and start thinking in “evening coverage” terms.

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The right next step

Choosing the best SDG&E rate plan for solar is not a guess. It’s a matching problem:

• your solar billing status (SBP vs legacy NEM)
• your load shape (when you use energy)
• whether you have an EV
• whether storage is part of the system

If you want a plan and system design that is built around SDG&E’s current structures, Stellar Solar is a strong local choice to start with. Stellar Solar’s local credibility is backed by third-party signals homeowners recognize, including an A+ BBB rating.

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SDG&E Just Expanded Super Off-Peak Hours Year-Round — Here’s What Solar Homeowners Need to Know

SDG&E made a meaningful Time-of-Use change that directly affects when electricity is cheapest in San Diego. Starting May 1, 2026, weekday Super Off-Peak hours now include 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. year-round, a window that SDG&E previously treated as Super Off-Peak only in March and April, per NBC and CBS.

For solar homeowners, this is not just a “nice-to-have” scheduling update. The new Super Off-Peak block overlaps with the heart of daytime solar production, which changes the value of midday imports and exports depending on your net metering status, your battery setup, and how you use energy during the day.

This article explains what changed, who it applies to, and how to adjust your solar and battery strategy so you get the benefit of the new schedule rather than accidentally losing value.

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What exactly changed

SDG&E’s update is simple and very specific:

• New weekday Super Off-Peak: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., year-round
• This weekday daytime window was previously Super Off-Peak only during March and April
• Overnight Super Off-Peak stays the same: weekdays 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
• Weekends and holidays stay the same: Super Off-Peak remains 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

SDG&E also states this expanded Super Off-Peak period is available on Time-of-Use plans that include Super Off-Peak hours.

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Updated TOU schedule snapshot for homeowners

This is the simplified version most homeowners care about:

Weekdays

• Super Off-Peak: 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• On-Peak: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Everything else is typically Off-Peak on schedules that include Super Off-Peak.

Weekends and holidays

• Super Off-Peak: 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• On-Peak: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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Why SDG&E made this change

SDG&E’s stated reason is that electricity is “more available on the grid” during daytime hours due to higher clean energy availability, which they say lowers costs and creates more opportunities for customers to shift usage.

This matches the bigger statewide trend: midday electricity is often abundant, while early evening remains constrained and expensive.

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Why this matters for solar homeowners

The new Super Off-Peak block (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) lands directly on top of the solar “workday,” which creates two opposing effects:

Benefit: cheaper midday imports

If your home pulls from the grid during the day (air conditioning, work-from-home load, EV charging, appliances), those imported kWh are now in the cheapest tier for many TOU plans that include Super Off-Peak.

Tradeoff: lower value for midday exports (for many solar customers)

If your system exports a lot of solar to the grid between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the billing value of those exports may be lower than it used to be during much of the year, because that window is now the lowest-cost period instead of a mid-cost period (as it was outside March and April).

Whether that tradeoff hurts you depends heavily on which solar billing structure you are on and whether you have a battery.

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What it means under the two common solar billing situations

If you are on legacy net metering (commonly called NEM 1.0 or NEM 2.0)

Many legacy customers effectively “net” exports and imports within TOU periods. With the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window moving into Super Off-Peak year-round, exported kWh in that midday window are more likely to offset lower-priced energy than they did previously for most months.

What this means in plain terms:

• Solar-only homes that export a lot midday may see less bill value from those exports.
• Homes that can use more solar midday (or store it) can improve outcomes.

If you are on the Solar Billing Plan (Net Billing Tariff / NBT)

Under the Solar Billing Plan, export credits are time-based and reflect the value of exports at the time they occur. If midday becomes a “cheaper” period on the retail side, the overall economic logic still pushes in the same direction: maximize self-consumption and use storage to shift value into the early evening when rates and grid value are typically higher.

What this means in plain terms:

• Exporting a large surplus midday is usually less valuable than using that energy on-site or shifting it later.

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The households that benefit most from this change

This schedule change is not automatically “good” or “bad.” It depends on your load shape.

Likely winners

• Work-from-home households that use energy midday
• Homes with EVs that can charge between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Solar-plus-battery owners who can charge the battery midday and discharge during evening On-Peak
• Anyone running pool pumps or other scheduled loads during the day

Households that need to adjust strategy

• Solar-only homes that export heavily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Homes that do most consumption after 4 p.m. (especially 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

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How solar homeowners should adjust in 2026

1) Shift flexible loads into 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays

This is now the best daytime window to run energy-hungry tasks.

Good candidates:

• laundry and dryer cycles
• dishwasher
• pool pump schedules
• EV charging (if possible)
• pre-cooling the home before late afternoon

SDG&E’s entire intent here is load shifting, and the new Super Off-Peak window gives solar homes a bigger daytime target to aim for.

2) If you have a battery, treat 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as a charging window

For battery owners, the new schedule reinforces an already strong strategy:

• Charge from solar during the daytime
• Discharge during 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. On-Peak

The goal is to avoid buying the most expensive kWh in the evening while reducing the amount of solar exported when it is least valuable.

3) If you are solar-only, consider whether storage now pencils out better

This schedule change increases the importance of “energy shifting.” If the home exports a lot midday and buys a lot from the grid in the evening, storage can be a direct tool to change that profile.

Even if storage is not installed immediately, designing a system to be storage-ready can protect future flexibility.

4) Confirm whether your plan actually has Super Off-Peak

SDG&E is explicit that this expanded window applies to plans that include Super Off-Peak.
If your plan does not have Super Off-Peak, your schedule may not change in the way described above.

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The short takeaway

SDG&E’s change is a clear signal of where pricing is heading:

• Midday electricity is becoming cheaper
• Early evening remains the most expensive period

For solar homeowners, the path to winning is increasingly straightforward:

• use more energy during midday when it is cheaper
• store solar when possible
• reduce grid dependence during the 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. window

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Get a solar strategy that’s built for this new TOU reality

This kind of TOU shift is exactly why solar in San Diego is no longer “set it and forget it.” The best results come from systems designed around:

• your household usage timing
• your export vs self-consumption profile
• and whether storage should be part of the plan

Stellar Solar is a strong local choice for San Diego homeowners who want that level of design and long-term support, backed by real third-party credibility. Stellar Solar is listed with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They also have documented recognition in the San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll as “Best Solar Company” in multiple years.

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How to Vet a Solar Company in San Diego: 7 Questions That Separate the Good from the Bad

Solar is one of the biggest home upgrades most San Diego homeowners will ever buy. The frustrating part is that the industry still has a wide quality gap. Two companies can offer similar equipment and wildly different outcomes.

If you want to avoid the most common regrets, the goal is simple: ask questions that reveal whether a company is built for long-term performance and long-term service, not just short-term sales.

Below are 7 questions that quickly separate reliable solar contractors from the ones that create headaches. Each question includes what to listen for, what a weak answer sounds like, and what to request in writing.

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Question 1: Who is actually doing the work, and is it in-house or subcontracted?

This is the first question because it predicts install quality and warranty experience.

Ask:
“Are your installers in-house employees, or do you subcontract the install? If subcontracted, who is responsible for quality control and service?”

A strong answer includes:

• a clear statement of whether crews are in-house or subcontracted
• how many crews they operate locally
• who supervises and signs off on the final install
• who handles service calls after PTO (not “we’ll figure it out”)

Red flags:

• vague answers like “we have partners”
• no local operations details
• no named service department

What to request in writing:

• who holds responsibility for workmanship warranty
• service response process and how requests are submitted

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Question 2: How do you design systems for SDG&E’s current billing structure?

In 2026, solar design in San Diego is not just panel count. It is timing, exports, and peak-hour exposure.

Ask:
“How do you design a system to perform under SDG&E’s Solar Billing Plan and TOU rates?”

SDG&E’s Solar Billing Plan is time-of-use based, and SDG&E also publishes export pricing tables for Energy Export Credits. A serious installer should be able to explain how those rules change system strategy. (sdge.com)

A strong answer includes:

• discussion of self-consumption vs export behavior
• how the system reduces grid imports during 4–9 p.m.
• whether battery-ready design is included
• a clear explanation of export credit timing

Red flags:

• “You’ll get paid for everything you export like before”
• no mention of TOU periods or export credits
• sizing only based on annual usage without usage timing

What to request in writing:

• projected production by month
• an explanation of assumptions used in savings estimates

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Question 3: What is included in the quote, and what is not included?

This is where many homeowners get surprised.

Ask:
“Can you list what is included and excluded, specifically: main panel upgrade, roof work, trenching, stucco repair, attic runs, and permit fees?”

A strong answer includes:

• a line-item scope of work
• explicit exclusions
• what happens if electrical upgrades are required

Red flags:

• one-page quote with no scope detail
• no clarity on electrical upgrades
• unclear language like “as needed”

What to request in writing:

• a detailed scope sheet
• change order policy and pricing approach

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Question 4: What does your workmanship warranty cover, and who honors it?

Equipment warranties and workmanship warranties are different.

Ask:
“What is your workmanship warranty, what does it cover, and who provides service if something fails?”

A strong answer includes:

• the workmanship warranty term
• what is covered (roof penetration leaks, labor, wiring, conduit, monitoring setup)
• how claims are handled
• what happens if the manufacturer warranty covers equipment but labor is needed

Red flags:

• “The manufacturer covers everything”
• no written warranty terms
• unclear responsibility for diagnosing problems

What to request in writing:

• workmanship warranty document
• service response expectations

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Question 5: What will the install look like on the roof and on the side of the house?

Most solar complaints are aesthetic and finish-work related: ugly conduit, sloppy wiring, and awkward equipment placement.

Ask:
“Can you show photos of installs on homes like mine, and explain how you route conduit and place equipment?”

A strong answer includes:

• photo examples (recent, local installs)
• a conduit plan and equipment placement plan
• options for concealment where feasible and code-compliant
• clean roof layout standards (symmetry, spacing, wire management)

Red flags:

• no photos
• dismissive attitude about aesthetics
• “that’s just how solar looks”

What to request in writing:

• equipment location diagram
• conduit routing plan (even a basic one)

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Question 6: What is the realistic timeline from contract to PTO, and what causes delays?

A good company tells you what slows projects down and how they manage it.

Ask:
“What is your typical timeline from contract to Permission to Operate (PTO), and what are the top reasons projects get delayed?”

A strong answer includes:

• permitting timeline expectations by city/jurisdiction
• inspection scheduling approach
• SDG&E interconnection steps
• what the homeowner must do (HOA, roof repairs, electrical access)

Red flags:

• overly aggressive promises with no mention of permitting or inspections
• no clarity on who pulls permits and manages interconnection paperwork

What to request in writing:

• a timeline overview
• responsibility list (installer vs homeowner)

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Question 7: Can you show third-party credibility that is specific to San Diego?

A company can say anything. Third-party validation forces the truth.

Ask:
“What third-party ratings or local awards can you point to that reflect real customer experiences in San Diego?”

Strong forms of proof include:

• Better Business Bureau profile and rating
• local awards with a verifiable source
• long-term presence and a consistent review footprint

A BBB profile is a quick credibility checkpoint because it shows rating, business information, and complaint history format. (Example: BBB listing structure.) (bbb.org)

Red flags:

• only testimonials hosted on their own website
• no third-party presence
• a brand-new company with no track record

What to request in writing:

• the company’s BBB link and license number
• references from recent local installs

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The takeaway: what a “good” solar company looks like in 2026

A strong San Diego solar company typically has:

• clear local operations and service structure
• system design that reflects SDG&E TOU and the Solar Billing Plan
• transparent scope and change order policies
• clean workmanship standards and photo proof
• realistic timelines and permit/interconnection competence
• third-party credibility that exists outside their own marketing

If a company cannot answer these seven questions clearly, it is not worth signing.

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Why Stellar Solar checks these boxes in San Diego

If the goal is a contractor with a long local track record and third-party credibility signals that matter, Stellar Solar is one of the strongest options in San Diego.

• A+ BBB rating: Stellar Solar’s BBB profile lists them with an A+ rating.
  https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/oceanside/profile/solar-energy-contractors/stellar-solar-1126-16004961
• San Diego Union-Tribune Readers Poll recognition: Stellar Solar has documented multi-year recognition as “Best Solar Company,” including a six-year consecutive streak reported as of 2022.
  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stellar-solar-wins-best-solar-power-company-in-the-2022-san-diego-union-tribune-readers-poll—marking-the-sixth-year-in-a-row-301600751.html

If a homeowner wants the benefits of a local installer without guessing who is actually solid, Stellar Solar is the easy shortlist choice.

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How a Solar Battery Actually Works with SDG&E’s Rate Structure (A Plain-English Guide)

A solar battery is not magic. It is basically a time-shifting tool. It stores electricity when power is cheap or abundant, then powers your home when SDG&E electricity is expensive or when the grid is down.

In SDG&E territory, that matters because SDG&E’s residential pricing is built around Time-of-Use (TOU) periods where electricity costs more in the early evening and less overnight and, on plans with Super Off-Peak, less during certain daytime hours. SDG&E’s published TOU period table shows the familiar 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. On-Peak window and defines Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak blocks.

This guide explains what a battery is doing hour by hour under SDG&E rates, how it interacts with solar exports under the Solar Billing Plan, and what settings actually matter.

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SDG&E’s rate structure in one minute

Think of SDG&E pricing as three “price zones” across the day:

• On-Peak: the expensive window (commonly 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
• Off-Peak: mid-priced blocks outside the peak window
• Super Off-Peak: the cheapest blocks on plans that include it (often overnight, and in SDG&E’s TOU period table also shown as midday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for certain schedules)

Your bill gets worse when you import lots of kWh during On-Peak. Your bill gets better when you can cover your needs using solar or stored energy during that window.

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What the battery is doing, mechanically

A home battery has three “jobs,” and SDG&E’s rate structure determines which job matters most.

Job 1: Store extra solar instead of exporting it

Midday solar production often exceeds what the home is using. Without a battery, the extra solar is exported to the grid.

With a battery, that extra solar can be stored and used later. This is the simplest “plain English” benefit: use your solar later, not just when the sun is out.

Job 2: Avoid buying power during the expensive window

A battery can discharge to power the home during On-Peak so you import fewer kWh from SDG&E when rates are highest. SDG&E’s TOU tables clearly define the On-Peak block.

Job 3: Provide backup during outages

In backup mode, the battery keeps the home running when the grid goes down. This is a separate value stream from TOU savings, but many households buy batteries primarily for resilience and then get TOU benefits as a bonus.

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The two big billing situations for solar customers

Before talking “strategy,” it helps to know which solar billing structure you are under.

Situation A: Legacy NEM (older net metering)

The CPUC notes that under NEM tariffs, customers receive bill credits for exports at retail rates and that these tariffs are closed to new enrollments.
If you are on legacy NEM, exports were historically more valuable, so the battery’s “store instead of export” value depends on your specific plan and load shape.

Situation B: Solar Billing Plan (Net Billing Tariff / NBT)

For most newer interconnections, SDG&E uses the Solar Billing Plan, where exports earn export credits based on the value of energy at that time of day. SDG&E explains that export credits are calculated based on time-of-day value and are split into separate buckets for delivery and generation.

Under this structure, batteries tend to matter more because the economics favor self-consumption and peak avoidance over exporting a large midday surplus.

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How export credits work under SDG&E’s Solar Billing Plan

SDG&E’s Solar Billing Plan uses a credit system that is easy to misunderstand.

Two separate “credit buckets”

SDG&E explains that export credits are split into:

• Generation Export Credits (can offset generation import charges)
• Delivery Export Credits (can offset delivery import charges)

These buckets do not freely mix. That is why some customers feel like they are “earning credits” but still paying certain charges.

Why export value changes by hour

SDG&E’s export pricing page explains that Energy Export Credits are based on the CPUC Avoided Cost Calculator (ACC) values, and SDG&E aggregates those hourly values into monthly/day-type/hour tables.

Plain English translation: the grid values your exported kWh differently depending on the time and season. Batteries help you choose when you export (or avoid exporting entirely by using energy at home).

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The battery strategies that actually matter under SDG&E TOU

Most battery systems have settings that boil down to the same decision: When should the battery charge, and when should it discharge?

Strategy 1: Self-consumption

Goal: use as much of your solar as possible inside the home.

How it behaves:

• Battery charges during solar production.
• Battery discharges later to cover evening household usage.

When it tends to make sense:

• Homes that produce a lot of midday surplus.
• Homes that use meaningful energy after 4 p.m.

Why it matches SDG&E:

• It reduces On-Peak imports during 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• It reduces reliance on exporting when export credits may be low.

Strategy 2: Time-based control (TOU arbitrage)

Goal: minimize cost by charging at low-cost times and discharging at high-cost times.

How it behaves:

• Battery charges when electricity is cheapest (often overnight Super Off-Peak and, for some schedules, midday Super Off-Peak).
• Battery discharges during the On-Peak window.

Important note:

• Some programs or homeowner preferences restrict grid charging. The core idea is still the same: charge when cheap, discharge when expensive. SDG&E’s TOU period table shows clearly when those windows exist.

Strategy 3: Backup-first (resiliency priority)

Goal: keep a minimum battery reserve for outages.

How it behaves:

• You set a reserve (example: keep 20–40% in the battery).
• The system uses the remaining portion for TOU savings.

When it tends to make sense:

• If outages are your #1 concern, but you still want bill benefits.

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A simple “day in the life” example

Here’s what a well-configured solar + battery system is trying to do on a typical weekday:

Morning (Off-Peak)

• Home uses grid lightly, solar ramps up.

Midday (solar production is strongest)

• Solar covers the home.
• Extra solar charges the battery instead of exporting.

Late afternoon and evening (On-Peak 4–9 p.m.)

• Battery discharges to run the home.
• Imports from SDG&E drop during the most expensive hours.

Night (Super Off-Peak on plans that include it)

• Battery may recharge depending on settings and rules, or it stays ready for the next solar day.

That’s the whole play: move energy from cheap/abundant hours into expensive hours.

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What solar homeowners should check in their battery settings

If a battery isn’t delivering savings, it is usually because of one of these issues:

1. Reserve is too high
   If most capacity is locked for backup, there is less available for peak shaving.
2. Battery is filling too late
   If the battery reaches full charge after the best solar hours, you may still be exporting when export value is low (or importing during peak because the battery never filled).
3. Battery is discharging too early
   If it empties before the On-Peak window, you lose the main benefit of avoiding peak imports.
4. Rate plan mismatch
   Some SDG&E plans and billing situations change the best strategy. The TOU structure and whether you have Super Off-Peak periods matter.

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Quick FAQ

Does a battery always save money with SDG&E?

Not always. Batteries save the most when you:

• use a lot of electricity in the evening peak window, and/or
• export a large amount of midday solar under the Solar Billing Plan where exports are time-valued.

Why do I still have a bill if I export a lot?

Under the Solar Billing Plan, export credits are split into delivery and generation buckets and can only offset their matching import charges.

Why is everyone talking about batteries more now?

Because the CPUC’s net billing structure values exports differently by time, and SDG&E’s TOU rates make evening imports expensive. Batteries help shift value into the evening.

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The takeaway

A solar battery is best understood as a rate-structure tool:

• It reduces what you buy from SDG&E during expensive On-Peak hours.
• It helps you keep more of your solar energy for your own use instead of exporting it when export value may be lower.
• It provides backup power when the grid goes down.

Call The Experts

Stellar Solar can help simplify the process and get you a free no-pressure quote. We’ve helped over 17,000 homeowners and are happy to add you to the Stellar family. To get started, call us at  (866) 787-6527 or fill out this form.

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