RCEA is dedicated to supporting customers who generate their own renewable energy. Solar customers with RCEA buy energy at lower rates and receive credits for excess energy that is supplied to the grid.

We understand that solar rates can make your electric bill complicated. We are here to help!

Not sure which solar plan you’re on or want to learn more about your plan?

Benefits for RCEA Solar Customers

Get Paid for Excess Solar Generation with Annual Cash Out

In May of each year, RCEA will automatically send out a check to all solar customers who have a credit balance of $100 or more as part of the annual assessment of the account. This review period spans from March to April. There is a cap of $5,000; if your credit exceeds $5,000, the excess will be rolled over to the following billing cycle. If the credit amount is below $100, those credits will be rolled over and applied to the following billing cycle.

Receive Monthly Bills with Credit Rollover

RCEA’s generation charges are billed monthly because RCEA doesn’t have a true-up like the PG&E solar program. The PG&E delivery charges will be true-up at your annual true-up date.

Upgrade to 100% Renewable Energy with REpower+

For a $0.01/kWh premium, upgrading to 100% renewable energy ensures that you are always using 100% renewable energy, even if the sun isn’t shining. If you are a net generator, you will earn an extra $0.01/kWh for the energy you produce. This is in addition to the $0.01/kWh net generator bonus described below, which does not require you to upgrade to REpower+.

How it Works

Net Generator vs. Net Consumer

Net Generator	If you generate more electricity than you use, RCEA will credit you each month plus an additional $0.01/kWh bonus.
Net Consumer	If you use more electricity than you produce, you will be charged for the difference at slightly lower rates than PG&E. See pge.com/cca for rate details.

Billing Plans

Customers with a Permission to Operate (PTO) date before April 14, 2023 were placed on the Net Energy Metering (NEM) program. Customers with a PTO after April 14, 2023 will be placed on the Solar Billing Plan (SBP) program. See our Understanding Your PG&E Bill: Solar page for a breakdown of NEM and SBP bills.

For more information on the different billing plans, please continue reading below or contact us.

Solar Billing Comparison Chart

Compare Plans

Solar Billing Plan (SBP) – Enrollment After 4/14/2023

Customers are billed monthly by both RCEA and PG&E. The generation export credits are paid at Energy Export Credit (EEC) rate values until True-Up. At True-Up, the cumulative exported kWh is calculated via the Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) rate.

Net Energy Metering 2 (NEM2) – Enrollment 7/1/2017-4/14/2023

Customers are billed monthly by RCEA for the generation, and credits are paid at the retail rate plus an extra penny per kilowatt-hour ($0.01/kWh).

Net Energy Metering (NEM) – Enrollment Before 7/1/2017

Customer are billed monthly by RCEA for generation, and credits are paid at the retail rate plus an extra penny per kilowatt-hour ($0.01/kWh).

I’m a Current Solar Customer. Which Bill Plan Am I On?

To determine which bill plan you’re on, you’ll need to look at your PG&E bill. See the example bill below for more information.

Comparing Solar Services: RCEA and PG&E

Expand the sections below for tables that outline the differences between Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) solar accounts.

RCEA solar customers receive the benefits listed in the RCEA (left) column below and do not receive the benefits listed in the PG&E (right) column below.

Customers who opt out of RCEA solar service receive the benefits listed in the PG&E (right) column below and do not receive the benefits listed in the RCEA (left) column below.

Download Solar Account Comparison Charts (PDF)

Net Energy Metering (NEM): RCEA and PG&E Solar Service Comparison

Net Energy Metering (NEM) Solar Service Comparison

Download Solar Account Comparison Charts (PDF)

	RCEA	PG&E
Net Generation Bonus	RCEA customers that generate more electricity than they consume will receive a bonus of $0.01 per kWh on top of credits earned on exports.	PG&E does not offer any bonus credits for electricity generation.
Annual Cash Out	RCEA will automatically send a cash out check to all solar customers whose generation credit balance is $100 or more. (Maximum cash payout = $5,000)	Customers must contact PG&E to request a check during their True-Up. (A customer’s True-Up date is based on their solar start date.) Generation credit balance must be above $1.00.
Cash Out Rate	Credits are paid out at the rate customers pay for electricity (also called the retail rate).	Credits are paid out at the Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) rate. This rate varies based on wholesale prices of energy, which are lower than retail prices.
Cash Out Schedule	Annual cash-out begins in May for all eligible RCEA customers. It may take a few months to receive your electric generation NEM check, depending on processing times.	Customers must contact PG&E to request a check during their True-Up. (A customer’s True-Up date is based on their solar start date.) Generation credit balance must be above $1.00.
Credit Rollover	If a customer’s generation credit balance is less than $100 at the time of cash out, those credits will remain on their electric bills. If the generation credit balance is more than $5,000 at the time of cash out, $5,000 will be cashed out, and the remaining credits will remain on subsequent electric bills.	Credit rollover is the default payout option for PG&E generation customers. Cash payout is available on request only.

Solar Billing Plan (SBP): RCEA and PG&E Solar Service Comparison

Solar Billing Plan (SBP) Solar Service Comparison

Download Solar Account Comparison Charts (PDF)

	RCEA	PG&E
Net Generation Bonus	RCEA customers that generate more electricity than they consume will receive a bonus of $0.01 per kWh on top of credits earned on exports.	PG&E does not offer RCEA’s $0.01 per kWh bonus.
Annual Cash Out	RCEA will automatically send a cash out check to all solar customers whose generation credit balance is $100 or more. (Maximum cash payout = $5,000)	Customers must contact PG&E to request a check during their True-Up. (A customer’s True-Up date is based on their solar start date.) Generation credit balance must be above $1.00.
Cash Out Rate	Each month, generation credits are accrued at the current fair market value of energy, which is called the Energy Export Credit (EEC) Rate. At the annual cash out, credits are calculated by multiplying the total kWh generation for the year by the Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) rate. The total cash-out value may be a combination of credits earned at the EEC rate plus the credits earned for the net cumulative kWh generated.	Each month, generation credits are accrued at the current fair market value of energy, which is called the Energy Export Credit (EEC) Rate. At True-Up, customers’ net generation is multiplied by the Net Surplus Compensation (NSC) rate. They can request a check or have their credits rolled over.
Cash Out Schedule	Annual cash out begins in May for all RCEA customers. It may take a few months to receive your electric generation check, depending on processing times.	Customers must contact PG&E to request a check during their True-Up. (A customer’s True-Up date is based on their solar start date.) Generation credit balance must be above $1.00.
Credit Rollover	If a customer’s generation credit balance is less than $100 at the time of cash out, those credits will remain on their electric bills. If the generation credit balance is more than $5,000 at the time of cash out, $5,000 will be cashed out, and the remaining credits will remain on subsequent electric bills.	Credit rollover is the default payout option for PG&E generation customers. Cash payout is available on request only.

Are You on the Right Rate?

Make sure your rate plan is right for you using the PG&E Rate Analysis Tool (requires a PG&E online account). To change your rate plan, contact PG&E. You will still receive your electricity generation service from RCEA at a slightly lower rate. See Rate Comparison Tool for details.

PG&E Rate Analysis Tool

Rate Comparison Tool