Path-Q Solar
How do export rates affect the value of electricity my panels send to the grid?
Answer
Export rates determine how much financial value you receive for solar electricity not used on site. If exported energy is credited below the rate for purchased electricity, increasing self-consumption through load shifting or storage may be more valuable than exporting the same energy; the exact result depends on the current tariff and program rules.
Key points
- Separate the value of self-consumed energy from the value of exported energy.
- Export treatment may vary by time, customer category, system size, or program enrollment.
- Fixed charges and non-energy bill components may remain even when exports are high.
What it depends on
- Current utility tariff and export-credit rules
- Hourly household demand and solar production
- Battery operation and load-shifting capability
- System size, interconnection arrangement, and program eligibility
Risks and trade-offs
- A tariff change can reduce the projected value of future exports.
- Oversizing a system may produce more low-value exports than useful on-site energy.
- Storage can increase self-consumption but adds cost, losses, and equipment degradation.
Information you may need
- Utility and applicable tariff
- Export-credit or compensation schedule
- Interval consumption and proposed production
- Battery, load-shifting, and system-sizing options
Your next step
What to do next
Obtain the current written tariff and model the proposed system with separate values for self-consumption, exports, fixed charges, and battery operation.
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SQ00487