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Numbers look wrong: a checklist

When the bill, production or savings don’t look right, check the inputs in order — the home and utility, the usage, the rate plan, the roof, the equipment, shade, the price and the rate increase. Most surprises come from one of them.

Work down the list; after each fix, press Calculate again.

Check the inputs

  1. The home and the utility

    Is the satellite view on the right roof? Does the line under the address show the utility and zone or region on the customer’s bill? See Make sure the right house is found.

  2. The usage

    Compare the total with the bills. kWh, not dollars? A monthly number in the yearly field? Bill dates matching? See Enter usage from bills.

  3. The rate plan (SCE)

    The plan and CARE as on the bill — see Choose the customer’s SCE rate plan and CARE.

  4. The roof

    In Details under the result, check each face’s tilt and direction against the design. Are all panels counted? See How the roof gets into the calculation.

  5. The equipment

    The right panel and an exact inverter; the battery and its mode if there is one.

  6. Shade

    Shade loss in All numbers — does it match the trees you see? Is Shade analysis on?

  7. The price and the rate increase

    $ per watt, battery price, extras; the yearly rate increase for the 25-year numbers.

Still unexpected?

Some results are right but surprising — a battery that doesn’t save with LADWP, a bill that stays even with 100% solar. See How the bill after solar is calculated: LADWP, How the bill after solar is calculated: SCE NEM 3.0 and Warnings on the results.

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