u/Curiosity_informs

If you have to be on NEM3 (as we unfortunately do) then this is probably as good as it gets!

Effectively no imports or exports. 500-600Wh each way is the system syncing with the grid occasionally and balancing when some larger loads turn on/off. For those not familiar with NEM3 this is ideal as exports are paid at less than 1/10th imports

Ran our home (well pump, water pressure pumps, pool pump, cooking etc) + charged both EVs during the day (and one briefly overnight) from PV production and stored PV production from the batteries.

There was some marine layer first thing so early morning production down slightly but with sun rest of the day we were close to our max daily production (just over 60kWh) so far.

9.6kW PV Array (22 Silfab 440 QD panels with 22 x Enphase IQ8AC microinverters) + 30kWh batteries (2 x Franklin aPower 2's) in SF Bay area on NEM3.

We have all seen the f*ck PG&E threads that create a lot of clicks but no solutions.

We need rate plans and rebates that are:

• Are fair and equitable to all (solar and non-solar often lower income customers)
• Cognizant of California's current electrical supply and how it varies though most days (California ISO data here)
  • It is mainly renewables (solar, geothermal, large hydro, solar to batteries) with nuclear and natural gas providing a baseline)
  • California exports power often at negative rates during the middle of most days.
• Encourages new residential solar / battery installations

PG&E (and probably all the large California utilities) are also charging us (the consumers not the utility investors) for catching up on all the grid maintenance that they didn't invest in sufficiently for many years, the liabilities from all the wildfires they started, vegetation management and more infrastructure investments so they don't start more wildfires.

However the utilities also need funding / investment so they can provide a safe reliable grid to us as consumers.

Would be interested to hear what people think would be a better solution that meets all these goals.

Peace