The POWER METER currently shows the max Watts consumed in the upper left corner for the period selected (value within red rectangle in below pic)
It would be nice if Sense could display the max Watts produced below the consumed number (using orange numbers) for the period selected. As it is, one has to manually zoom out/in/scroll to find the max value.
Is that really the max watts consumed, or is it the scale of the graph? i.e. Is 33100 the upper limit of your scale there, while your max usage is something more like 24kw? If you scroll over to that single peak a little after 7am on the 16th, is it 33kw or closer to 24kw?
Whichever, I’m impressed by your production value of 16.5kw - that must be some array to get that high at nearly winter solstice!
Ah, so the 33100 w number is the max of the scale, not the actual max power consumption? That makes more sense then, because I was trying to figure out how I could have possibly consumed 33kw+ at any one time.
I just did a scan through my power graph and zoomed in on what appears to be the current max value. Here it is:
You will note that the graph scale (if that it what it is) is showing 37200 w in the above pic. You will also note how my solar production is negative. That’s because the Sense is installed at the house so the Solar CTs are measuring everything at the shop sub panel, which includes both solar production AND loads there.
Yes, the solar array is pretty impressive. 56 260W panels mounted on my shop building about 200’ away from the house along with an additional 24 panels on a ground mount (those being at optimal tilt and angle).
With the shop being 200’ from the house, and me not having a dedicated sub-panel for the solar strings (I use micro inverters), the best compromise for installing the Sense CTs, were in the safety switch where the feed to the shop meets up with the feed to the house.
I created another thread yesterday asking if it would be possible to have the sense distinguish between producers and consumers in a sub-panel hanging off the feed the solar CTs are clamped to.
I saw that thread, and now your problem makes a little more… Sense? 
Every install seems to have its own set of problems. Mine was comparatively straightforward, the only issue I ran into was a shallow box which compressed the CT clamps and forced them open when I put the cover back on. It’s going to take a little more thought to come up with a creative solution for your application I think!
Your post does bring up a good idea the community can maybe refine. Some requests for cost analysis, etc - it would be great to have a tab that shows max readings in a billing month, including peak amps, which our provider and many others will soon be moving towards for billing purposes included in those analyses.
That’s heck of an system. Does your energy provider buy back excess?
I’m on net metering with the power company. So when I produce more than I use, I build up a “bank” of credit kWh that is then applied when I consume more than I produce during a monthly bill cycle. That is not an issue this time of year however, but I anticipate building up quite a bit of bank during the summer that I’ll eat into during the winter months.
After a few years, I hope my bank will be sufficiently large that I’ll never deplete it and thus only have to pay the $30ish base fee each month.
If my bank continue to build up year after year, the power company will eventually buy back the excess so they don’t have the liability of owing me anything.
What state is that in? Great solar policy there.
I’m in Virginia. I believe the policy varies depending on who your POCO is. Dominion Power who is also in VA, have a much different Net Metering policy. For starters, they require a separate meter for the solar install, AND you have to pay the same monthly base fee as your regular house meter. Total BS and no technical reason why that would be. So right off the bat, your overall bill will go up by $35/40 month.
Arizona is variable as well - it (still barely) pays to have solar with APS, while with SRP there is no cost savings with solar - in fact it is a disadvantage to have solar.
The trouble you’ll run into is when one utility sees that another is able to get away with something, it emboldens them to try it as well. APS will be shutting down net metering and possibly enacting demand charges starting this summer, based on SRP successfully arguing it should be able to do so a number of years ago. Fortunately, for now those of us with APS will be grandfathered in, until they change their minds and force us all off of net metering, or onto batteries. Lucky for them, they bought the utility commission and have them in their sway for the next few years.
Expect this to spread across state lines - this is an unfortunate change in policy that started in California and is making its way east, under the guise of “duck curves” and “grid maintenance costs.”
