TEP utility guide
Plan TEP solar around time-of-use and evening demand.
TEP places residential rooftop-solar customers on an approved time-of-use plan. A useful design must consider when the home consumes electricity, how much solar it can use directly, and whether storage should shift energy into peak periods.
Summer peakWeekdays from 3–7 p.m., May through September.Plan match: TEP Time-of-Use (TRREST) and Demand Time-of-Use (TRRESDT). Peak periods are subject to current TEP tariff rules.
Winter peaksWeekdays from 6–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m., October through April.Plan match: TEP Time-of-Use (TRREST) and Demand Time-of-Use (TRRESDT). Seasonal hours and charges are subject to change.
Export creditExcess generation receives a bill credit under TEP's RCP structure.Plan match: TEP Rider 14 / RCP export rate. The export rate is adjusted under current utility and regulatory rules.
How TEP solar billing works
- Solar used immediately in the home reduces power purchased from TEP.
- Excess generation sent to the grid receives a monetary RCP credit.
- A new customer's RCP rate is set by the application period and generally remains in place for 10 years.
- Credits roll forward monthly, with an annual payment rule for eligible remaining balances.
Use production at the right time
Daytime appliance use, pool pumping, and EV charging can increase direct use of solar. A battery can carry midday production into TEP's late-afternoon or evening peak windows and can also support selected backup loads.
Plan match: TRREST Time-of-Use or TRRESDT Demand Time-of-Use, paired with TEP Rider 14 / RCP. Exact eligibility and terms are subject to change.What Sonoma reviews for a TEP home
- 12 months of usage and current TOU plan
- Summer air-conditioning and winter morning/evening loads
- Pool, appliance, and EV charging schedules
- Roof production, expected self-use, and export assumptions
- Battery size, operating strategy, and backup priorities
Preliminary guidance: Final production, savings, interconnection, and equipment eligibility depend on the home, current TEP rules, site conditions, and program approval.
Utility references: TEP Rooftop Solar for Homeowners · TEP Time-of-Use