Los Angeles homeowner considers DIY solar after utility bill spikes following meter swap

“They want power from the grid, but not to send power back.”

A Los Angeles homeowner is thinking about installing solar panels after getting an electric bill that was higher than any previous one, despite no reported changes in the household’s routine.

The jump came after a new electrical panel and digital meter were installed, leading the homeowner to consider producing electricity on their own.

What to know

Keeping service from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, or LADWP, remains part of the plan. In a Reddit post on r/SolarDIY, the homeowner said the proposed solar setup would be around 10 kilowatts.

The post pointed to a rise in billed electricity usage, not just a larger amount due. It did not, however, explain why the usage increased or whether the new meter played a role.

“We just got our recent bill and it's the highest we've seen, and usage is even higher than before even though we haven't changed our behavior. But we did install a new panel with a new digital meter,” the original poster wrote.

Solar can be an effective way to lower home energy costs, and solar leases can sometimes reduce monthly bills by hundreds of dollars without upfront costs, depending on the home and contract. Homeowners can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to review possible savings from vetted installers in their area.

More background

Instead of placing panels on only one roof section, the homeowner plans to use both sides of the gently sloped roof on the east- and west-facing home.

A larger array, about 12 to 15 kilowatts, is also being considered. For the split-roof design, the homeowner is choosing between a dual-MPPT, or maximum power point tracker, inverter and microinverters on each panel.

After reviewing the equipment, commenters dismissed a low-cost online panel package as outdated stock with unclear labeling. It was advertised as “18kW of Produktion.”

What can be done?

The wall that holds the electrical panel is also the location where the homeowner wants to mount an outdoor battery.

EasyHome can also help homeowners compare battery storage options along with solar. Pairing solar with a battery can increase savings and, when set up for backup, let a home keep running on solar power during a grid outage.

Sending excess solar power to the grid is not part of the homeowner's plan, but drawing electricity from the utility is. “Want to access power from the grid, but not feed into it,” they wrote.

Where can I learn more?

Other homeowners considering solar have also had to deal with higher electricity usage and steep installation prices. These reports look at a meter-related usage jump, California DIY solar plans, and plug-in systems.

• A homeowner's power use more than doubled after a meter issue, prompting solar quotes.

• A California homeowner considered skipping a $3,000 contractor fee for a friend's solar plan.

• A California homeowner exploring 1,200-watt plug-in solar was warned to use a dedicated circuit.

• A California DIYer reported a $1,200 plug-in solar setup producing nearly 1,200 watts.

• A California homeowner's $1,200 electric bill prompted a $65,938 solar setup with potential savings.