• Solar Systems can reduce electricity bills, but they do not eliminate them completely, especially if the household consumption exceeds what the system is producing. For instance, during peak hours, if a family uses a lot of electricity this increases usage from the grid which results in higher bills. Even if the customer consumes no electricity from the utility, they will often still receive a small utility bill with base customer charges. 

• Trees and other landscaping may have grown taller, thicker, which is producing more shading - affecting the system’s production. Regularly assess the shading on the system, at different times of the day, and during different seasons to see if that could be affecting the system's production. 

• Some people consume more energy after installing solar panels. This is known as the solar rebound effect, which describes the increase in energy consumption relative to the amount of energy generated by the solar panels. 

• Energy usage could significantly increase due to additional appliances or more people in home, such as during summer months when kids are home and using more electricity 

• Using energy-intensive appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during the night or peak rate periods can affect your utility bill. Running these appliances during the day (when the solar system is producing energy) could increase savings 

• Seasonal changes can influence solar production. For instance, during rainy or cloudy months the solar system will produce less energy, leading to higher utility bills. Similarly, Hot summer days can increase the energy demand, especially for cooling 

• (If Applicable) Net metering allows the homeowner to earn credit for the excess energy the system sends back to the grid. However, in some areas these credits are reconciled annually. This means that we might not see immediate savings but will benefit over the year 

• During VPP events, batteries may drain more quickly, leading to increased energy use from the grid, rather than the battery during peak hours. While this can temporarily raise bills, participating in a VPP program allows customers to earn credits that will more than offset these added utility costs. 

• If the solar system is connected to the incorrect meter, this may explain discrepancies in the utility bills. In such cases, Support can arrange for a technician to assess and resolve the issue. 

• System’s monitoring data could seem inconsistent due to a missing or incorrectly installed CT clamp, which can reflect accurate energy tracking 

• Is the Contract PPA or RIC?

IF RIC:

• Go to the Contract and locate the “Estimated Year 1 Production” Value

Open

• Go to Step 2

IF PPA:

• Go to the “Guaranteed Output” Section in the contract

• Grab the amount in column 3 (Ex: 15,183 kWh)

• Divide by 24 (Months, 2 years) (Ex:15,183÷24=616.83kwh)

• Save the Amount on your Screen (Ex: 616.83 kWh)

  • Save the Amount obtained on a separate sticky note so you dont lose the amount and can reference back easily

Open

• Then go to Step 2

• Access (MyEverbright.com)

• Log In by using your Email Address & Password

• Look up for the customer by typing the Homeowner’s Name in the Search Box

• Click on “Impersonate”

• Click on “System”

• Once in there you will be able to visualize the Homeowner’s Production

• Do the amount match the Estimates we notated?

IF YES or MORE:

• It means the system is working as expected

  • If Homeowner still complaining about a high utility bill go to Step 6 in the Checklist Procedure

IF NOT or LESS:

• It means the system may not be working as expected

  • Go to “IF NOT” section from the Step 5 in the Checklist Procedure