San Diego Gas & Electric is one of the utility companies in California that provide solar net metering services. The solar net metering program provides an opportunity for the company to source energy from the excess power production of households with solar panel systems. They provide credits to their customers for the excess energy produced by the a solar system that can be used for against future bills.

While solar net metering can provide credits to households with an overproduction of energy, it cannot be a source of income since there is a limitation with the installation of a solar panel system. The size of the solar panel system that can be installed is compared to the consumption of the household. A bigger solar panel system cannot be installed for the purpose of generating more energy for selling. Solar net metering is only to be used for electricity management and not for income.

SDG&E net metering is a program by SDG&E that provides net metering services to households with solar panel systems. SDG&E net metering is integrated with the solar panel system to connect the household to the energy grid of SDG&E. Once connected, it allows the household to take energy from SDG&E or provide energy to the grid.

In a household, there are times when the solar panel system does not produce enough energy for the consumption of the occupants. For instance, a household may have additional visitors or parties that lead to greater energy consumption during certain months. When this happens, the house needs more energy than what the solar panel system can provide. If the house is connected to the energy grid, the energy grid can supply the energy that the household needs. SDG&E then bills the household for the energy consumed from the grid.

There may also be times when the house does not consume a lot of energy for a variety of reasons. The solar panel system may then have a surplus production of energy. The excess energy can be supplied to the energy grid and the household can be given credits for the amount of energy that they provide. The credits accumulated can then be used for future bills from the company. The energy gathered from one household can then be supplied to other customers.

With net metering, SDG&E provides their services all across San Diego County. Credits are provided at the same value as the retail price of the energy produced. Note that electricity rates vary depending on the time of the day as well as the month of the year. Electricity rates increase during certain times of the day due to higher demand. The rates of the electricity depending on the time it is used as well as the month of the year. A higher demand during certain times of the day increases the rates of the electricity.

The size of the solar panel system in a household is regulated to not exceed the electricity needs of the household. To get connected to the SDG&E net metering program, a customer must send an interconnection request. The interconnection request is one of the steps that SDG&E uses to ensure that the customer has a qualified solar power system on their property and that the system passes safety standards to operate. There is an interconnection request fee of $132. 

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