SCE Solar Guide: Net Metering, Rates & Interconnection in Orange County

Rate plans (TOU-D-PRIME, etc.)

Most new solar customers land on time-of-use rates where electricity costs more in evening hours. Solar offsets expensive imports when aligned with usage. Review your SCE rate on the bill header before modeling savings.

Interconnection steps

1. Contract signed & design completed
2. City permit issued
3. Installation & inspection
4. SCE application & review
5. Permission to Operate (PTO)

PTO timeline

Expect weeks—not days—after inspection. Incomplete paperwork is the top delay. Licensed installers submit inverter specs, panel schedules, and interconnect forms correctly the first time.

True-up bill walkthrough

Annual true-up reconciles exports and imports. Under NEM 3 you may owe a small annual settlement even with solar if exports were undervalued and evening usage stayed high. Shift loads, add panels, or add selective storage.

See also our SCE net metering guide (2026) and Orange County solar services.