How can SPAN help me save money?
SPAN is able to help homeowners reduce their energy usage, increase their solar self-consumption, and decrease their on-peak grid usage by:
- Reporting on circuit-level self-sufficiency (e.g., % energy from solar that your appliances used last month)
- Reporting on potential savings from shifting grid imports entirely to off-peak rates
- Using excess solar to charge homeowners’ cars instead of sending energy back to the utility, so they can drive the cheapest, greenest way possible (and save up to $700* per year).
How can I see an estimated cost for my energy usage?
When enabled, homeowners can see an estimated cost for their energy usage at a circuit level in the “Stats” section of the app. This provides homeowners with actionable insight so they can make better decisions about their electrical usage, potentially leading to savings.
This feature is in beta and is only an estimate, not a guarantee. Not everybody will see high savings opportunities, especially if they already have a well-balanced electrical system.
How do I enable this feature?
To enable estimated energy costs to show in the app, you’ll:
- Go to your “Stats” page
- Click the “BETA Cost” button in the upper right corner
- Choose the type of utility plan you have: “Flat rate” or “TIme of Use Rate”
- Input your peak rate price, peak days, and peak times
- Click “Save”
Once enabled, the homeowner can go to the “Stats” page and toggle between “Energy (Wh)” to see energy usage per circuit or “BETA Cost ($)” to see the estimated cost of circuit usage. You will only be able to see the current day's cost estimates.
If you need to update your utility details at any point, return to the “BETA Cost ($)” page and you’ll see an editing option on the initial screen.
What if my utility rate is not listed or I’m not sure what to put?
At this time, the only utility rate plans that can be chosen are “Flat rate” or “Time of use rate.” If your rate changes seasonably, you can adjust the rate manually when the rate changes. We also recommend inputting your highest rate to understand the majority of your savings opportunities.
If you need help locating your utility rate and rate structure, the rate ID or type will generally be listed on your electric bill and the full details can be found on the utility’s website. On the bill, it may look something like this:
On the utility’s website, there should be a breakdown of the rate structure in terms of $ / kWh. Input this information into the SPAN app. If you have trouble locating your utility rate details, give your utility a call to verify the information for you.
Why can’t you use the Time of Use rate plan details I already shared?
The Time of Use rate chosen for Drive is used to help determine your optimal charging schedule. It is not yet integrated into the cost simulation feature available on the “Stats” section of the Home App.
What if my utility bill is different from the numbers shown in the app?
This feature is only an estimate based on a home’s energy usage and the utility details inputted in the app. It does not guarantee an exact match to an individual’s utility bill. It also does not account for export credits (i.e., net energy metering).
To ensure that the estimate is as accurate as possible, we recommend reviewing the utility information input to see if anything may need to be adjusted.
What if I’m not seeing lower utility bills?
SPAN helps you understand circuit-level costs and savings potential, but does not guarantee any savings. The cost simulation does not account for all aspects of your utility bill, such as fixed infrastructure charges and so may not exactly match your bill.