How to understand your electricity bill with solar energy? See tips and examples.

You installed the photovoltaic system, the electricity bill It's here: so what now? Many consumers face the same challenge: how to understand the electricity bill with solar energy? 

The lines change, terms like "energy injected" and "accumulated balance" appear, and the final value is not always what the app shows.

Knowing how to understand the new bill after solar energy It is essential to monitor your system's performance and confirm that credits are being applied correctly.

The good news is that this reading is simpler than it seems.

In this article, you will learn:

• What changes in the bill after the installation of the photovoltaic system?
• What are the main lines of discussion and what does each term mean?
• How to calculate your solar bill in practice;
• What precautions should be taken to avoid errors and misinterpretations?

With this knowledge, you will be able to analyze your bill safely and truly understand where the cost comes from. savings generated by solar energy.

If you don't already have Solar energy in your homeBut if you want to take that step, check out a... List of reliable solar energy companies to contact in your area.!

The importance of understanding your electricity bill with solar energy.

Understanding your electricity bill when using solar energy is important for monitoring its performance. photovoltaic system and check if the credit compensation It's being done correctly by the distributor.

By analyzing their bill, consumers can identify how much of their energy consumption came from the grid and how much was offset by their own generation. This control, in turn, prevents surprises, measurement errors, and incorrect charges.

Properly reading the invoice also allows evaluate financial return on investmentFrom this, it is possible to verify the real impact of solar generation on monthly consumption and compare the results with the initial projection made at the time of installation.

Finally, monitoring the invoice helps to detect variations in consumptionto identify periods of lower generation and understand how the rules of the energy compensation system affect the final amount paid.

What changes in the bill after the installation of the photovoltaic system?

Right after the installation of the photovoltaic system, the consumer already begins to notice the... savings on the electricity bill. 

This happens because the system starts generating a good portion of the energy needed for the property, reducing the use of electricity supplied by the distributor.

In addition to the reduction in the bill amount, the account will now show... energy creditsAll solar energy generated but not consumed is recorded by a bidirectional electronic meter, which measures both the energy drawn from the grid and the energy injected into the grid.

These credits appear on the next bill and are automatically deducted from the total amount due. Depending on the size and performance of the installed system, savings can approach 100% of the electricity cost.

The account, however, It never completely resets.This happens because there are mandatory taxes and fees charged by the distributor. 

One of them is the availability cost, defined by Normative Resolution No. 414/2010 da ANEELwhich varies depending on the type of electrical connection:

• 30 kWh for single-phase units;
• 50 kWh for two-phase systems;
• 100 kWh for three-phase systems.

The final bill amount, therefore, reflects the balance between what was consumed and what was offset, taking into account accumulated credits and mandatory fixed costs.

Example of an electricity bill before and after solar energy installation.

Below we present a actual invoice Energy credits generated by the system are highlighted in red. The amount of electricity after the installation of a photovoltaic system is shown.

The bill displays three main pieces of information for those who use solar energy:

• Energy injected: The system sent 201 kWh to the grid. This is the energy that generates credit.

• Offset consumption: The same 201 kWh were used to offset the month's consumption, reducing the bill.

• Cumulative balance (in red): The consumer still has 3.018,61 kWh in credits available for the coming months.

Even with full compensation, the bill still shows taxes such as ICMS, PIS, and COFINS, in addition to mandatory items stipulated by the distributor. The side graph helps visualize month by month how much was consumed from the grid and how much was injected into the system.

This example shows how solar credits reduce the final bill amount and how the accumulated balance acts as an "energy bank" for periods of lower generation. 

Read also: Eight out of 10 Brazilians have difficulty understanding their electricity bill, according to research.

Common lines on a solar energy bill: what each term means.

After the installation of the photovoltaic system, the electricity bill will display new information that helps to monitor the performance of the generation and the use of energy credits. The most common lines are: 

• Active energy consumed;
• Energy injected;
• Measured balance and accumulated balance;
• Cost of availability;
• Other fees and taxes.

Next, see what each of them means and how to interpret the values ​​on your bill.

Active energy consumed

The active energy consumption line shows how much electricity was used from the power grid during the month, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). 

Even with a solar system in operation, there are still times when the unit consumes energy from the utility company, such as at night or on cloudy days.

So, if the residence consumes 250 kWh in a month and the system generates 200 kWh, for example, the difference of 50 kWh is recorded as active energy consumed from the grid.

Energy injected (energy credits)

The injected energy line indicates the amount of excess energy that the system generated and sent back to the electrical grid. 

This surplus is converted into credits that remain available for up to 60 months, according to the resolutions of... ANEEL.

For example, if the monthly generation is 300 kWh and consumption is 250 kWh, the remaining 50 kWh will appear as injected energy and will be used as a discount in subsequent months.

Measured balance and accumulated balance

The measured balance is the result for the month, while the accumulated balance shows the total credits still available for offsetting. In other words, these lines indicate the balance of energy credits. 

For example, if the consumer had 100 kWh of credits and the system generated an additional 20 kWh, the accumulated balance becomes 120 kWh.

Availability cost (minimum fee)

Even when generating all the necessary energy, the solar consumer pays a minimum fee to remain connected to the electricity grid, as we saw earlier. 

This charge ensures that the distributor maintains the supply during times when there is insufficient solar generation.

Other relevant fees and taxes

The invoice also includes taxes and mandatory charges that continue to be levied after the solar system is installed. These include:

• ICMS, which is levied on consumption and has partial exemptions in some states;
• PIS and COFINSFederal contributions calculated based on the value of energy consumed.
• Contribution for Public Lighting (CIP), charged by municipalities to maintain street lighting.
• TUSD (Distribution System Usage Tariff)which compensates the distributor for the use of the electricity grid. Even consumers who generate their own energy continue to use the utility's infrastructure to inject and offset the solar energy produced.

Speaking of TUSD, the collection of this tax also began to follow the rules of... Legal Framework for Distributed Generation (Law No. 14.300 / 2022), which began a transition period in 2023.

By 2025, many consumers who connect after that date will already be under the new compensation model, in which part of the network usage fee is charged proportionally.

Changing the subject, how about seeing in practice how a solar system can continue operating even during power outages?

Watch the video below and learn about the project of a hybrid system Installed in a residence in the interior of São Paulo, it is capable of maintaining the electricity supply even during blackouts.

How do I calculate my solar bill?

After the installation of the photovoltaic system, the electricity bill will take into account three main elements: the energy consumed from the grid, the credits generated by solar energy, and the fixed fees charged by the distributor.

In simple terms, the calculation can be represented by the formula:

• Bill amount = (Energy consumed – Energy credits) × Tariff + Availability cost + Taxes

This equation shows how much the consumer pays after offsetting energy credits and applying mandatory minimum tariffs.

To understand this in practice, imagine a residence that consumes 350 kWh in a month, but generates 300 kWh with the solar system. Considering a tariff of R$ 0,75 per kWh and an availability cost of R$ 35, the calculation would be:

• (350 – 300) × 0,75 + 35 = R$72,50.

In this case, the consumer would only pay for the difference of 50 kWh plus the minimum fee.

Now, if that same residence generated 300 kWh and consumed only 250 kWh, the surplus of 50 kWh would be converted into credit for the following month. Thus, the bill would be... R$35, value referring only to the availability cost.

Common precautions and pitfalls when interpreting your bill.

Even with a well-equipped solar system sizedMany consumers get confused when analyzing their energy bill. Some of the most frequent mistakes are:

• Confusing generation with offsetting credits: The energy generated by the system is not automatically deducted in real time. The balance is offset in the following month's bill, which may cause a difference between the measured consumption and the amount charged.
• Compare the distributor's app with the printed invoice: The apps show partial reading data, while the bill reflects the official closing of the cycle. Small differences between the measurements are normal and usually adjust in the following bill.
• Forgetting the expiration date of credits: Solar energy credits expire after 60 months, according to the rules of... ANEELIt's important to monitor your accumulated balance monthly to avoid losing old credits.
• Do not consider the availability cost: Even when generating all the energy they consume, solar customers continue to pay the minimum fee to the distributor. This charge appears every month, even when the energy balance is positive.
• Ignore taxes and fees that remain on the bill: Taxes such as ICMS, PIS/COFINS, and the Public Lighting Contribution continue to be charged, as they are not related to solar power generation.
• Failing to check the accumulated balance: The "accumulated balance" field shows the credits available for offsetting. If the number suddenly drops, it means that old credits may have expired or were not properly applied.

Another important point is to follow the reading of bidirectional meterThis system records both the energy consumed and the energy injected. This monitoring helps to detect any system failures or discrepancies in the bill calculation.

Tip Canal Solar: If your electricity bill shows unexpected values, it's best to compare the meter readings with the generation history from your inverter or solar app. If the difference persists, contact your electricity distributor or the company responsible for the installation. 

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Conclusion

Understanding how to read your electricity bill when using solar energy is essential to ensure that your photovoltaic system is generating the expected savings.

By analyzing each line of the invoice, you can monitor the system's performance and identify any potential clearing errors.

Knowing how to understand your electricity bill with solar energy also helps avoid common mistakes, such as confusing the data from the app with the bill or losing credits due to lack of monitoring.

With this accurate reading, it's possible to confirm whether the return on investment is within expectations and to have more control over one's own consumption.

Want to keep learning about solar energy and get the most out of your system? follow the Canal Solar and gain access to the most complete, up-to-date, and reliable content about the photovoltaic sector in Brazil.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Even after learning how to read the bill, some questions are still common among those who have or intend to install a photovoltaic system.

Below, we've compiled the most frequently asked questions about understanding your electricity bill when using solar energy.

Can I use my energy credits at another residence or address?

Yes, credits generated by a photovoltaic system connected under the same CPF (Brazilian individual taxpayer registration number) or CNPJ (Brazilian company taxpayer registration number) can be used in another consumer unit of the same distributor. 

However, it is necessary that the other unit be within the concession area of ​​the same electrical grid and that all procedures are registered with the distributor.

What should I do if the amounts shown on the distributor's app and on my bill don't match?

It's common to see differences between the data displayed in the app and the final bill amounts, as apps show partial readings. The official bill considers the complete billing cycle and may include reading adjustments, corrections, or fixed charges that the app doesn't show. 

Compare the two values ​​and, if the variation is significant, contact the distributor to request verification of the measurement or compensation.

How long do I have to use my accumulated energy credits?

Energy credits injected into the distributor's system are valid for up to 60 months (5 years), according to the compensation regime of the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL).ANEEL).

After this period, unused credits may expire and cease to be offset, reducing the estimated savings.

Does installing batteries change how electricity bills are calculated and compensated?

Yes. Systems with storage by Batteries (off-grid ou hybridThey can set up a different tariff and compensation model. 

In the traditional grid-connected system, credits are applied according to the rules of... distributed generation. 

With batteries, energy consumed from the grid can be further reduced, but minimum charges, fixed tariffs, and the need for approval from the distributor still exist.

Does a reduction in your bill mean that the solar system is working perfectly?

Not necessarily. A drop in the bill is a good indicator, but it doesn't replace a complete analysis of the billing statements, the generation balance, the accumulated credit, and the correct operation of the system. 

It is recommended to check if the annual generation is as expected, if the inverter is functioning properly, and if the bidirectional meter readings are being applied without error.