Has anyone dealt with Georgia Power's Rate GSA-8 for commercial solar customers? I have a client in Atlanta with a 150kW rooftop system and GP is somehow billing them $847 for 'excess generation' last month. The meter shows they exported 1,200 kWh but they're getting charged instead of credited. Customer service keeps transferring me between departments. This makes no sense under the net metering tariff.
Georgia Power is charging my client for solar production - Rate GSA-8
Rachel, I've seen this before with GP's commercial solar billing. Check if they have the customer on the wrong rate schedule - sometimes they put solar customers on standard commercial rates instead of GSA-8. Also verify the meter configuration because GP has been known to wire the production meter backwards. Had a similar case where they were reading net consumption as gross generation for 6 months.
Derek's right about the rate schedule issue. I'm also in Atlanta and have three solar clients on GSA-8. Georgia Power's billing system has serious problems with bidirectional metering. Make sure you get copies of both the import and export meter readings. Under GSA-8, excess generation should be credited at avoided cost rate, not charged. File a formal complaint with the PSC if they won't fix it - I've won two of these cases this year.
Thanks guys. I pulled the meter data and you're absolutely right - they have the production meter reading as consumption. The actual net usage shows they consumed 2,800 kWh and exported 1,200 kWh but GP's system is adding them together for a total of 4,000 kWh billed. Called the solar interconnection department and they confirmed it's a meter programming error. Should be fixed next billing cycle.
Great news Rachel. Make sure you get a credit for the overcharge too. Georgia Power owes your client about $200 based on their standard commercial rate. I always request interest on solar billing errors since these mistakes can go on for months before anyone notices. Document everything because GP's billing department has selective memory about these conversations.
This thread is gold. I'm dealing with Idaho Power on a similar issue right now. They don't have as many solar customers as Georgia but their billing system is equally messed up. Warren, do you know if there's any industry best practices document for auditing solar bills? The rate structures are getting so complex with time-of-use and demand charges layered on top of net metering.
Warren, I don't know of any formal best practices guide but I've developed a checklist for solar audits. Key things: verify correct rate schedule, check meter programming and CT orientation, validate net vs gross billing calculations, review interconnection agreement terms, and always cross-check demand charges during peak solar production hours. Happy to share my template if you want to PM me.
Update: Georgia Power issued a $347 credit and fixed the meter programming. The remaining $500 was legitimate demand charges during evening peak hours when the solar wasn't producing. Lesson learned - always separate energy charges from demand charges when analyzing solar bills. Thanks everyone for the help on this one.