How does net metering work.
Commercial solar panel net metering.
Put simply net metering is a utility billing mechanism available in most states that offers a credit to residential and business customers who are making excess electricity with their solar panel systems and sending it back to the grid.
Or the first date upon which the cumulative generating capacity of net metering systems equals 4 percent of the utility s peak demand during 1996.
Net metering also known as net energy metering or nem is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid.
Any excess electricity that is generated by the solar system and not used by the customer is sent back to ouc s electric grid for which the customer will be credited at the full applicable standard retail rate this is also known as net metering.
While it is possible to install an off grid solar panel.
If you are a customer of a utility that offers net metering you will receive credits for this electricity that you can apply towards a future electric bill.
Despite the fact that the mechanism is not established at federal level over 38 states have mandatory net metering rules.
Illinois hit its cap earlier this year starting a process to.
Solar thermal if using an ouc preferred contractor the customer installs a solar thermal.
Without it you would need to install a solar battery to store your excess electricity which can run you thousands of dollars.
In broad terms net metering is an agreement with the utility company that allows you to get credit for solar energy sent into the grid.
When your solar panels produce more electricity than you need that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits.
Net metering also ensures that you get the most out of your solar panels.
Net metering is a billing mechanism that offers the chance for those with photovoltaic systems installed on their homes to receive a credit for every kwh that is injected back to the grid thanks to the installation of a bidirectional energy meter that runs backwards when excess solar power is generated.
The 2019 washington state legislature updated washington state s solar net metering statute via e2ssb 5223.
Net metering update may 2019.
Many states have passed net metering laws.
Otherwise your excess power would just get sent to the grid without you getting any value from it.
Then at night or other times when your solar panels are underproducing you pull energy from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that energy.
Net metering net metering allows residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity from solar power to sell the electricity they aren t using back into the grid.
In other states utilities may offer net metering programs voluntarily or as a result of regulatory decisions.
In summary an electric utility must offer to continue to make net metering available to eligible customer generators on a first come first served basis until the earlier of either june 30 2029.
Many states have enacted distributed solar caps and once a cap is hit net metering is no longer available for new solar customers.
