NEM Version Comparison Calculator

Your Solar Installation Status

Solar System

System Size (kW DC) Total nameplate capacity of your solar array in kilowatts DC. Typical residential: 6–12 kW.

Annual Production (kWh) Auto-calculated from system size × production ratio. Override with your actual production if known.

Production Ratio (kWh/kW/yr)

Northern CA ≈ 1.3–1.4 | Central CA ≈ 1.45–1.55 | Southern CA ≈ 1.65–1.70

Usage Profile

Self-Consumption Rate (%) What % of your solar production you use directly on-site (never hits the grid). Without battery: 25–45%. With battery: 65–90%.

35%

Solar-only typical: 25–45% | With battery: 65–90%

Battery Storage (kWh) Selecting a battery auto-adjusts your self-consumption rate upward — modeling how battery storage captures excess solar for evening use.

Utility & Rates

Utility

Rates auto-filled for PG&E. Check your bill for your actual rate.

Retail Rate ($/kWh) PG&E avg ~$0.33, SCE ~$0.35, SDG&E ~$0.38 (2025). This is what you pay per kWh imported from the grid.

NEM 3 Export Rate ($/kWh) Average ACC-based export rate paid under NEM 3.0. PG&E ≈ $0.060, SCE ≈ $0.070, SDG&E ≈ $0.080 (2025 averages).

NBC Rate ($/kWh) Non-bypassable charges: mandatory ~$0.025/kWh on all electricity consumed. Applies to NEM 2 & NEM 3. NEM 1 is exempt.

Annual Rate Escalation (%) Historical CA IOU escalation: ~3.5–5%/yr. CPUC forecast: PG&E 3.7%, SCE 3.5%, SDG&E 4.7%.

Selected: 3.5% (Moderate)

Financial Assumptions

System Cost (pre-incentive) Total installed cost for solar panels, inverter, and labor — before any incentives (ITC, rebates). Used to calculate payback period.

Panel Degradation Rate (%/yr)

NREL median for monocrystalline panels: 0.5%/yr

NEM 2.0 Grandfathering Expiry Calculator

PTO Month

PTO Year

Your NEM 2.0 protection expires: January 2042

Key Insight

Under NEM 3, your solar earns significantly less per year than NEM 2

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Enter your system details to see your personalized comparison

NEM 2 vs NEM 3 Gap

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less/year under NEM 3

Self-Consumption Premium

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value of each self-consumed kWh over exported kWh under NEM 3

NEM 3 Export Rate

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vs. retail ~$0.33+/kWh

Payback Period Comparison

Self-Consumption Savings: Solar used directly on-site avoids buying from the grid — worth the full retail rate under all three NEM versions.

Export Earnings: NEM 1.0 = full retail rate. NEM 2.0 = retail minus non-bypassable charges (~$0.025/kWh). NEM 3.0 = ACC-based average ($0.05–$0.08/kWh).

Battery Model: Simplified single-cycle daily model — battery charges once from midday solar, discharges once in the evening. Capped at 95% max self-consumption.

25-Year Projection: Solar production declines at the selected degradation rate. Retail rates escalate at the selected annual rate. NEM 3 ACC export rates grow at 1%/yr.

Disclaimer: Educational estimates only. Actual savings depend on your specific tariff, TOU pricing, and usage patterns. Consult a licensed solar professional before making decisions.

25-year cumulative savings projection. Assumes utility rates escalate at your selected rate annually and panels degrade at the selected rate.

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