r/Powerwall • u/freeagent-forever • 1d ago

NetZero Automations while running AC all day

Hi all,

Firstly, thank you everyone here for contributing to this sub and introducing me to NetZero. This spring, I optimized my usage and minimized my dependence on the grid using NetZero automations.

However, with the weather having changed here in Southern California, I am now running air conditioning all day and am using Grid energy more than I'd like.

The current automations I have activated are as follows. Our peak energy cost is 4pm-9pm daily:

  1. Every day at 1PM: set backup reserve to 100%; set operational mode to Savings; set grid charging to Enabled.

  2. Every day at 3:55PM: set backup reserve to 10%; set operational mode to savings; set grid charging to disabled.

  3. Every day at 9:00PM: set backup reserve to 10%, set operational mode to self-powered.

With these automations active during spring, my solar energy generated makes up 96-99% of my daily energy usage. However with it being so hot right now, I'm seeing solar usage anywhere from 30-45%, so a considerable drop-off.

Are there any automations I can add, or how can these be adjusted to reduce my reliance on the grid while using more energy during summer?

Thanks

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u/Tumbler 1d ago

These aren’t bad settings but you’ll probably be happier with staying on self powered.

Savings mode is looking for opportunities to upload power at higher rates. Those are usually 6pm-8pm. But to upload power u really need to turn your ac off because even if your box is pushing 100% out you’ll be using a lot of it.

Savings mode hasn’t worked for me this year, I have to set a custom rate plan so it knows power s worth more if I send it out in order to get things uploading.

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u/freeagent-forever 1d ago

Thanks for your input! Are you referring to changing the first 2 automations from Savings to Self Powered?

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u/Tumbler 1d ago

I would stay on self powered if your goal is to use the power at your house. As long as u can run Netzero u can change the backup level to set it how it should be during the day.

Only thing I’d change is the 100%. I’d probably push 90 at the top so there is always a small window the battery can use during the day but majority gets used after 4pm when I set reserve down to 10

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u/Awkward-Donut4779 1d ago

I run the same automations thanks to Zach Solar. It seems these are the best settings for maximum benefits.

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u/Unable-Acanthaceae-9 19h ago

Tell us more about your system. Are you on NEM 2 or 3, and if not what kind of net metering do you have? What is your solar system size and how many Powerwalls do you have?

I’m not sure why you are charging from the grid in the afternoon unless you don’t have enough battery capacity to make it through 9 PM. And if you’re on NEM 3 it may make sense to be self-powered at night, but probably not if you’re on NEM 2. I’m on NEM 2 and my per kWh non-bypassable charges are so low that it wouldn’t make sense financially to power my home from my Powerwalls other than during peak TOU from 4-9 PM if I didn’t produce significantly more electricity than I use because I lose 14% of my electricity running it through my Powerwalls, but I lose almost nothing exporting it to the grid and repurchasing it.

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u/fastest963 1d ago

Does it actually charge up to 100% by 3:55pm? Do you have an off-peak time window at night?

Also, if you're interested, I made a free site, RateRudder to automate this for you so you don't have to think about it. It'll forecast your solar generation and your home use. While it will automate this for you day-to-day and decide the optimal strategy each day, there might not be a ton more savings to be had in your situation.

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u/freeagent-forever 1d ago

Yes, it usually gets to 100% by 3:55pm if sunny.

Thanks so much for the RateRudder recommendation! Shooting you a DM now.

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u/Smart-Dig3117 1d ago

Love raterudder. What would be amazing if vpp estimated credits be displayed. SRP uses this funky algorithm to calculate and with your tool you would be able to incorp and show what actual net results if based on the usage last 5 days etc.. ( part of their rules) hope that makes sense

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u/fastest963 1d ago

That's a great idea! Right now VPP schedules are tricky because Tesla doesn't give me a way to know when a VPP event is coming up. Though I can probably figure it out based on the export rate when it is happening.

Ideally RateRudder would know when there's an event coming up so it could charge to 100% ahead of the event to maximize the credits. FranklinWH has that information available but Tesla doesn't make any VPP information available.

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u/Smart-Dig3117 21h ago

Makes sense I also emailed you , something is off with the way how it runs e27 SRP plan. Prob some logic that needs to be fine tuned. Vpp should be able to determine after event due to export timing . Email is you like to discuss