Retail rate
EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A — July 2026 state fallback
Status: official
Last reviewed: 2026-09-30
This is a state-rate fallback; utility-specific rates can differ.
Utility-aware calculator
Solar Savings by Utility Rate, Export Credit, and Fixed Charges
State averages are useful for a first pass. Utility-aware planning is the next step when time-of-use rates, net billing, low export credits, or fixed monthly charges may change the savings picture.
Retail rateExport creditTOU-ready
Utility-aware estimate
Model retail, export, and fixed charges
Use this when a state-average estimate feels too broad. Enter a utility name if you know it, then adjust retail and export values from your bill or rate plan.
California state average
Utility-aware savings view
Annual energy value
$2,813
Estimated bill after solar
$997
Export value
50% of retail
Fixed charges
$180
Solar production target: 10,800 kWh/year. Estimated direct home use: 5,940 kWh. Estimated exports: 4,860 kWh.
Lower export value reduces planning value by about $817 versus full retail credit.
Rate plan is unknown. Verify whether the utility uses flat rates, time-of-use rates, net billing, or another export method.
Export value is materially below retail value, so self-consumption and battery timing may matter more.
Fixed monthly charges can remain even when solar production offsets much of the energy use.
Source evidence
Export value
Unknown / verify with utility planning fallback
Status: requires review
Last reviewed: Model assumption; verify with the utility tariff
Export credits can vary by utility, tariff, time period, and interconnection program.
Fixed monthly charge
$15/month entered by user
Status: user entered
Last reviewed: User entered; verify with the utility bill or tariff
Fixed, minimum-bill, tax, and non-bypassable charges can remain after solar.
Utility tariff replication
California state-average planning scenario
Status: planning only
Last reviewed: Model assumption; verify with the utility tariff
This tool separates retail, export, fixed-charge, and self-consumption assumptions; it does not replicate a full utility tariff.
Assumptions to verify
- California is used as the fallback state data source.
- 100% annual solar offset target.
- 55% of solar production is treated as used directly in the home before export.
- Fixed monthly charges are treated as a bill floor that solar production may not offset.
- This model simplifies time-of-use and demand charges into retail and export values; it is not a utility bill replica.
- No utility name was provided, so this should be treated as a state-average planning scenario.
SolarCalcNow provides planning estimates only. Results are not installer quotes, engineering designs, tax advice, financing recommendations, or utility interconnection approval.
Explain the bill after solar
Copy imports and exports from the utility bill for the same dates. Inverter production includes energy used at home, so it cannot replace exported kWh. Prefilled figures are fictional worksheet inputs. Enter current-period charges only, excluding past balances and payments.
Formula: max(0, imports × import rate − exports × credit rate) + fixed charges + other charges. This model caps credits at energy charges and shows the excess separately. Your tariff may bank, expire, pay out or apply credits differently. Tiered and hourly rates need a separate calculation by period. No loan payment is included in the utility bill.
When to use this instead of the simple calculator
Use it when your utility pays less for exported solar than you pay for imported electricity.
Use it when a fixed charge or minimum bill means the post-solar bill cannot realistically reach zero.
Use it when time-of-use rates make afternoon and evening energy worth different amounts.
Use it to prepare questions for installers before accepting a payback claim in a proposal.
What to do next
After modeling utility assumptions, compare installer proposals and ask each installer to explain the exact export value and rate plan used in their savings estimate.