What is Net Metering?

Net metering is the policy that really enables your solar to work for you.

In most US states, there is a policy that says for every kilowatt hour that

you put into the grid, you will receive a credit for that kilowatt hour. So,

if your solar system produces 10-kilowatt hours of energy, and it puts

those 10-kilowatt hours into the grid, that’s 10-kilowatt hours you get

back (for free). This is important because

your solar power system produces energy during the daytime, but you

use energy during the nighttime as well. How it works is that during the

daytime, you put a lot of energy into the grid, and it goes “on your

account” to be used later when you are not producing electricity. So,

you’re banking all those credits (your money). Then at night, you pull

that energy off the grid, and you use all the credits you accumulated.

That’s net metering.

It’s an amazing policy. One that we all as consumers and advocates for

clean energy must continue to fight for. It has enabled solar power to

develop and grow. In effect it gives you the ability to use the grid as

your own battery, reducing the cost of electricity for you and your

family.