A California solar owner has come up with a simple iOS workaround for one of the most frustrating parts of rooftop solar: the electric bill that can still feel nearly impossible to predict.
The tool is designed to estimate charges before they arrive, including the dreaded annual true-up.
Here's what to know
The app centers on meter data rather than solar production estimates alone. In a post on Reddit, the user said they built it after getting "sucker punched by high bills even after tracking my solar production all month."
According to the post, it tries to capture annual true-ups, fixed fees, and the split between delivery and generation charges — "all the little gotchas of electrical billing."
Electricity is the main emphasis, but the app can also estimate water, gas, and sanitation bills. It already includes native support for LADWP, So Cal Edison, PG&E, and San Diego G&E.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, but understanding billing details can make a major difference in how much of those savings households actually keep. If you're considering solar panels, you can explore EnergySage to find a cost-effective provider.
More background
Year-end reconciliation charges are a common source of uncertainty for California solar households.
A home can appear to be doing fine month to month, then later face a larger balancing charge after the utility fully reconciles credits, usage patterns, and rate structures.
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What can be done?
EnergySage's free services can help homeowners save up to $10,000 on solar installation. Homeowners can also use EnergySage's solar map. Together, those resources can help you find the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. EnergySage also has resources for homeowners interested in that option.
The OP is also inviting outside testing of their app to see how the calculations perform across utility plans. They said, "I'm offering free access to anyone here who wants to test it, since I'm looking for real-world feedback on the math across different CA rate plans."
Redditors were quite happy to test out the homeowner's tool.
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One Reddit user said, "I will test it. My true-up is on the 26th, so timing for a test is good."
Another commented, "Let's do this!"
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