Battery operating modes
The mode sets when the battery gives back its energy — Time-of-use holds it for the peak hours, Self-powered uses it any time, Backup only keeps it for outages. With SCE a battery lowers the bill; with LADWP its value is backup power.
The same battery can save a lot, a little or nothing on the bill — it depends on when it discharges and on the utility’s rules. Cali-Graf models it hour by hour, the way the battery’s own software runs it.
The modes
| Mode | What the battery does |
|---|---|
| Time-of-use (hold for 4–9 PM peak) | Charges from solar during the day and saves its energy for the peak hours, then covers the home. For LADWP homes it says “hold for peak hours”. |
| Self-powered (use solar any time) | Covers the home whenever solar falls short, at any hour. |
| Backup only | Stays charged for outages and doesn’t change the bill. |
In every mode the battery keeps 20% of its energy for outages. Losses on the way in and out are counted.
SCE: the battery lowers the bill
Under SCE’s Net Billing Tariff, power sent to the grid at midday earns little and power bought from 4 to 9 PM costs the most. A battery that stores midday solar for the evening peak saves real money — that’s why Time-of-use (hold for 4–9 PM peak) is the default for SCE.
LADWP: the battery is backup
Under LADWP net metering a battery does not lower the bill — its value is backup power during outages. Solar sent to the grid at noon is credited like power used in the evening, so storing it doesn’t save anything. Backup only is the default for LADWP homes.
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