Frequently Asked Questions

DCE customers with solar panels can participate in our Net Energy Metering (NEM) program, which offers the same rates for your excess energy production as SCE for net surplus generation. Intra-month generation is valued at DCE’s applicable rate. If you are already a NEM customer with SCE, you don’t have to do anything. Your account will automatically be enrolled in DCE in May 2020. Credits for surplus electricity earned under SCE’s NEM program prior to May 2020 will be trued up and paid by SCE following enrollment into DCE’s NEM program.

As part of DCE’s NEM program, your system’s energy production will be monitored monthly. If you produce excess energy, you will receive a credit on your bill that can be applied to charges in future months. If you use more energy than your system produces in a given month, you will be charged for the energy you draw from the grid. In Palm Springs, you also have the option of our Carbon Free plan to receive 100% carbon-neutral electricity and further reduce your carbon footprint.

Yes.  DCE believes in a greener future and supports customers who already have or wish to have solar installed on their homes or businesses. DCE customers with solar panels can participate in our NEM program. DCE will purchase the excess energy you produce at the same rate as SCE.

If you are already a solar customer with SCE, you do not have to do anything. Your account will be automatically enrolled in DCE’s NEM program in May 2020. As part of DCE’s NEM program, your system’s energy production will be monitored monthly. If you produce excess energy, you will receive a credit on your bill that can be applied to charges in future months. If you use more energy than your system produces in a given month, you will be charged for the energy you draw from the grid. In Palm Springs, you will be automatically enrolled in DCE's Carbon Free plan for energy drawn from the grid. DCE’s Carbon Free plan is competitive with SCE’s green rate. If a reduction in carbon emissions is not your priority, and you would like to prioritize reducing the overall cost of your electricity, you can choose to opt down to our Desert Saver plan that is less than SCE's base rate. Customers who switch to our Desert Saver pay less on their electricity generation when compared to Southern California Edison (SCE).

Credits for surplus electricity earned under SCE’s NEM program prior to May 2020 will be trued up and paid by SCE following enrollment into DCE’s NEM program.

Yes, you are still able to offset your charges with excess generated energy. At the end of your relevant period (May 2021 for most DCE NEM customers), you will either receive a check or a bill, and if you are a net consumer for that year, you will only receive one bill for energy consumption annually.   If you are a net generator, DCE will compensate you for your Net Surplus Generation at the same rate as SCE.  This allows you a full 12 months to net out any generation charges.

If you need energy beyond what your system produces, DCE will still provide energy. The City of Palm Springs has prioritized reducing greenhouse (GHG) emissions and chosen to have DCE automatically enroll every customer into DCE’s Carbon Free plan. You can stay green and make a bigger impact on the environment by remaining in DCE’s Carbon Free plan that is competitive with SCE's green rate. You also have the choice to purchase energy at a lower cost than what you now pay SCE with our Desert Saver plan. To opt down to Desert Saver, visit DesertCommunityEnergy.org or call toll free (855) 357-9240 Monday through Friday between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. PST. It only takes a few minutes to opt down and save!

DCE’s Net Surplus Compensation Rate (NSCR) is the same as SCE’s and typically is only adjusted by the DCE board when annual rates are set. Customers will receive advanced notices of rate changes prior to deciding DCE board meeting.

A relevant period refers to the twelve month billing period, in which NEM credits and charges are tracked. Desert Community Energy will reconcile any and all credits and charges for each customer on an annual basis each May, rather than on a unique date for each customer.

The most opportune month to launch the NEM program for the majority of NEM customers would be the end of May. We consulted with local solar experts and discovered that this is typically the time that most customers would have saved up the most solar credits through the spring before using them to offset the higher usage in summer months. Therefore, the end of May represents the time period when your balance should be the lowest.

Automatic enrollment into DCE’s NEM program will not affect NEM 1.0 customers’ status. Desert Community Energy will honor SCE’s NEM 1.0 and 2.0 status for those customers already grandfathered in at that status, and the time-of-use periods you have with SCE will remain the same. However, should a NEM customer decide to opt-out of DCE outside of the 60-day post enrollment window to go back to SCE, they will be enrolled in SCE’s most recent NEM status. NEM 1.0 and 2.0 customers that opt out of DCE prior to the 60-day post enrollment window will retain their NEM 1.0 or 2.0 status when they return, and their original relevant period will be restored.

Your licensed solar company should be able to help you start the process to convert to solar. Once you’ve completed the SCE NEM enrollment process, you will automatically be enrolled in DCE’s NEM program if you are an eligible DCE customer.

For additional questions about NEM, getting started with solar, and your service, please visit our NEM page at https://desertcommunityenergy.org/your-options/net-energy-metering/ or please feel free to call us at (855) 357-9240 Monday through Friday between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. PST, or reach us by email at customerservice@desertcommunityenergy.org. We are happy to help.