Net Energy Metering and Tracking

Due to the recent California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Decision 12-05-036 that modifies the method of calculating the 5% net energy metering (NEM) cap, PG&E is in the process of updating the tracking data presented below. PG&E will update the NEM tracking page upon completion of ongoing efforts by the CPUC to define the method of calculating “aggregate customer peak demand”.

PG&E's Net Energy Metering (NEM) program provides customers the ability to offset the cost of their electricity with energy their renewable generating system exports to the grid. The way the program works is that PG&E will install a "bi-directional net meter" for the customer that measures the difference between the amount of electricity supplied by PG&E and the amount of electricity exported to the grid over the course of a billing month. After 12 billing cycles, the corresponding credits and charges are reconciled, and any remaining charge is then billed.

Typically, solar generating systems produce more energy during peak hours and summer months. This production may exceed the household or business requirements, in which case the surplus energy generates credits for use during off-peak hours and winter months when the system may not meet the customer’s energy needs. In addition, if a customer has generated more energy than they consumed in total over the 12 month period, it may receive compensation for the excess electricity.

The NEM program has a limit set by the Legislature. This limit is based on 5% of PG&E’s aggregate customer peak demand. The total generating capacity (CEC-AC for solar systems and nameplate values for all other technologies) of all the renewable generators that qualify under NEM are added together until the 5% limit is reached. Customers taking service under Rate Schedules NEM, NEMVMASH and NEMV are counted under this cap.

The table below shows the latest number of NEM customers in PG&E's service territory and the combined capacity of their generating systems. These amounts are only estimates for tracking purposes and do not replace PG&E's CPUC reporting requirements.

DateNEM Installations – NumberNEM Installations CEC ACEstimated Percent of Allowable NEM Peak
November 30, 201275,848721.41 MWN/A

* These figures are updated monthly.