Ava Export Bonus Credits in Berkeley
Berkeley solar customers earn two separate export credit bonuses on top of standard PG&E Solar Billing Plan credits — here's how the Ava layer works and what it's worth.
Last updated: March 2026
What Ava Bonus Credits Are
When Berkeley solar customers export energy to the grid under the Solar Billing Plan, they receive credits from two sources in addition to PG&E's base export rate:
Layer 1: ACC Plus (PG&E / CPUC)
The ACC Plus Export Adder is a PG&E bonus set by the CPUC as part of the Net Billing Tariff. It applies to all PG&E residential solar customers who interconnect during 2023–2027. The amount steps down each year and is locked in for 9 years from your Permission to Operate date.
Layer 2: Ava Community Energy Bonus (Berkeley-specific)
Ava Community Energy adds its own export bonus on top of PG&E's export credits and the ACC Plus adder. This bonus is exclusive to Ava's service territory (which includes Berkeley) and runs from 2024 through 2029. Berkeley homeowners benefit from both layers; most neighboring PG&E cities do not get the Ava layer.
Berkeley advantage: Standard-rate Berkeley solar customers export at: PG&E base rate + ACC Plus adder + $0.025/kWh Ava peak bonus. Most PG&E customers in neighboring cities only get the first two layers.
Who Gets Ava Bonus Credits
To receive Ava export bonus credits, you need to meet all three of these conditions:
1. Berkeley Address
Your home must be in Ava Community Energy's service territory. Berkeley (all ZIP codes) is included. Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, and some other East Bay cities are also served by Ava.
2. Solar Billing Plan
You must be on PG&E's Solar Billing Plan (Net Billing Tariff). This applies to all new solar installations interconnected on or after April 15, 2023. Customers on legacy NEM 2.0 are grandfathered until April 2033.
3. Not Opted Out of Ava
If you've opted out of Ava Community Energy back to PG&E bundled service, you would not receive the Ava bonus. Most Berkeley residents remain with Ava unless they've actively changed.
Automatic enrollment: You don't need to sign up for the Ava bonus separately. If you meet the three conditions above, Ava applies the export bonus automatically based on your account status.
Ava Bonus vs. ACC Plus: Key Differences
| Feature | Ava Export Bonus | ACC Plus Adder |
|---|---|---|
| Who sets it | Ava Community Energy | CPUC / PG&E |
| Who gets it | Ava service territory only (Berkeley, parts of East Bay) | All PG&E residential solar customers |
| Rate (standard) | +$0.025/kWh during peak hours (3–8 PM) | Varies by interconnection year; steps down annually |
| Rate (CARE/FERA) | +$0.01/kWh on all exports (no peak restriction) | Higher adder for income-qualified customers |
| Program duration | 2024–2029 (5 years) | Locked 9 years from PTO date |
| Export hours | Peak bonus: 3–8 PM (standard); all hours (CARE/FERA) | All export hours |
How Much They Matter in Practice
The dollar impact of Ava bonus credits depends on how much solar you export and when. Here's a rough estimate for a typical Berkeley home:
Rough Annual Impact for a 7.5 kW Berkeley System
- • ~12,000 kWh/year solar production
- • ~30% exported (with solar-only, ~3,600 kWh exported)
- • ~40% of exports during 3–8 PM peak bonus hours
- • Standard (non-CARE/FERA) customer
The Ava bonus is a real benefit, but it's not the primary driver of Berkeley solar economics. Self-consumption value and ACC Plus adder typically have greater dollar impact. The Ava bonus is best thought of as a meaningful addition that improves the export-side economics for Berkeley customers compared to neighboring cities.
Compared to neighboring cities: A homeowner in Oakland or Emeryville on standard PG&E bundled service does not receive the Ava bonus. Berkeley solar customers have measurably better export-side economics due to Ava's participation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ava export bonus credits?
Ava Community Energy export bonus credits are additional per-kWh payments that Ava adds on top of PG&E's standard Solar Billing Plan export credits. Berkeley solar customers who are served by Ava (most Berkeley homeowners) automatically receive these bonuses when they export solar energy to the grid. The bonuses run from 2024 through 2029 and are separate from PG&E's ACC Plus adder.
Do I automatically get Ava bonus credits if I go solar in Berkeley?
Yes — Berkeley homeowners are automatically enrolled in Ava Community Energy for electricity generation (Berkeley joined Ava in 2018). When you install solar and go on the Solar Billing Plan (Net Billing Tariff), Ava bonus credits apply automatically to your exported solar energy. You don't need to separately enroll for the Ava bonuses. You do need to interconnect under the Solar Billing Plan, not the old NEM 2.0.
How much do Ava bonus credits pay per kWh?
Standard (non-CARE/FERA) customers receive +$0.025/kWh for solar exports during Ava's peak bonus hours (3–8 PM). CARE and FERA (income-qualified) customers receive +$0.01/kWh on all solar exports, not limited to peak hours. These rates are set by Ava and are in addition to the base PG&E export credit and the ACC Plus adder.
How long do Ava bonus credits last?
The current Ava export bonus credit program runs from 2024 through 2029 — a 5-year program. After 2029, Ava may renew, modify, or discontinue the bonuses. The ACC Plus adder from PG&E, which is a separate program, is locked in for 9 years from your Permission to Operate date and is not subject to Ava's decisions.
Are Ava bonus credits the same as ACC Plus?
No — they are two separate programs. ACC Plus (also called the "Energy Export Bonus Credit") is set by the CPUC and PG&E as part of the Net Billing Tariff, locked in for 9 years from your PTO date, and applies to all PG&E solar customers who interconnect during 2023–2027. The Ava bonus is separate, set by Ava Community Energy, applies only to Berkeley (and other Ava service territory) customers, runs 2024–2029, and has different rates for peak vs. off-peak exports.
See How Ava Bonuses Affect Your Estimate
Our estimator uses your Berkeley address and includes Ava export bonuses, ACC Plus, and E-ELEC rates in every calculation.
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All estimates use Berkeley-specific assumptions: Ava Community Energy rates, PG&E E-ELEC time-of-use pricing, and ACC Plus adder. Sources: Ava Community Energy SBP page, PG&E rate schedules, CPUC Net Billing Tariff.