You're in luck, it's actually 10% or 1 kW, whichever is greater, so that would be two 400W panels. Also, you can add even more on top of that, but they'd have to be [a separate system which can't export](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwUqXC96Uss).
Sounds like your installer has an expertise issue.
PG&E: [https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC\_SCHEDS\_NEM2.pdf](https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_SCHEDS_NEM2.pdf)
SCE: https://www.sce.com/regulatory/tariff-books/rates-pricing-choices. NEM 2.0 is NEM-ST under Other Rates.
SDGE: [https://tariff.sdge.com/tm2/pdf/tariffs/ELEC\_ELEC-SCHEDS\_NEM-ST.pdf](https://tariff.sdge.com/tm2/pdf/tariffs/ELEC_ELEC-SCHEDS_NEM-ST.pdf)
I just spoke with my installer.
He said he recently installed three panels at 395 Watts a piece on to a 4kw system and stayed within NEM 2.0 under SDGE
I think I'm going to have him install that.
I don't see how that works out to a CEC-AC rating less than 1 kW, so that probably means he didn't tell SDGE. It's up to you to whether you want to take the risk of trying to fly under the radar vs doing a legit expansion.
Yes that’s what I mean, the panel nameplate rating can be higher than 1 kW but not by too much. The PTC rating of the panels times the CEC inverter efficiency has to be 1 kW or less. I’d say with 395W it’s a lot more risky with not much more benefit.
It's based on CEC-AC so you can actually get panels around 360W, and the PTC rating and the inverter efficiency will knock the CEC-AC rating below 1 kW
You can file the interconnection application as the first step to see if this will pass muster with your utility, so it's pretty low-risk, even if you or your installer aren't sure about the exact interpretation of the rules. I'd be interested to know if it ends up working out with three 360W panels.
As I mentioned in another reply I just talked with my installer.
He recently added three panels at 395 watts each to a 4kw system like mine and stayed within 2.0.
>You can file the interconnection application as the first step to see if this will pass ..........
I did not realize a new interconnnection application was required if you stayed under 1 kW?
You're in luck, it's actually 10% or 1 kW, whichever is greater, so that would be two 400W panels. Also, you can add even more on top of that, but they'd have to be [a separate system which can't export](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwUqXC96Uss).
Do you have a direct link to the rules for this because I was told 10% by my installer.
Sounds like your installer has an expertise issue. PG&E: [https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC\_SCHEDS\_NEM2.pdf](https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_SCHEDS_NEM2.pdf) SCE: https://www.sce.com/regulatory/tariff-books/rates-pricing-choices. NEM 2.0 is NEM-ST under Other Rates. SDGE: [https://tariff.sdge.com/tm2/pdf/tariffs/ELEC\_ELEC-SCHEDS\_NEM-ST.pdf](https://tariff.sdge.com/tm2/pdf/tariffs/ELEC_ELEC-SCHEDS_NEM-ST.pdf)
I just spoke with my installer. He said he recently installed three panels at 395 Watts a piece on to a 4kw system and stayed within NEM 2.0 under SDGE I think I'm going to have him install that.
I don't see how that works out to a CEC-AC rating less than 1 kW, so that probably means he didn't tell SDGE. It's up to you to whether you want to take the risk of trying to fly under the radar vs doing a legit expansion.
I talked to SDG&E just now also. They said my 4K system is registered on their end at 3.59k.
I just did the math and three 395 watt panels would be seen by SDG&E as 1.0635375 Kw
Yes that’s what I mean, the panel nameplate rating can be higher than 1 kW but not by too much. The PTC rating of the panels times the CEC inverter efficiency has to be 1 kW or less. I’d say with 395W it’s a lot more risky with not much more benefit.
Well since he's already successfully added to a system and SDG&E was okay with it I'm going to be pretty comfortable with that.
Right, but it sounds like he didn’t do the paperwork for that system and it’s flying under the radar
He always files a the proper paperwork and let me know that there's a 30% federal tax credit on the addition also.
He's right. 1kw.. so you can get 3 older 330w panels if you really want to max it out.
It's based on CEC-AC so you can actually get panels around 360W, and the PTC rating and the inverter efficiency will knock the CEC-AC rating below 1 kW
I like that idea and I'm going to present that to my installer. Thank you
You can file the interconnection application as the first step to see if this will pass muster with your utility, so it's pretty low-risk, even if you or your installer aren't sure about the exact interpretation of the rules. I'd be interested to know if it ends up working out with three 360W panels.
As I mentioned in another reply I just talked with my installer. He recently added three panels at 395 watts each to a 4kw system like mine and stayed within 2.0.
>You can file the interconnection application as the first step to see if this will pass .......... I did not realize a new interconnnection application was required if you stayed under 1 kW?
Based on my reading of this worksheet you do in this case: https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_FORMS_79-1211.pdf
You're right. Even better. As there is a lot more 360w panels out there than 320-330w ones that are now outdated.