net metering, definition of

Net Metering is a method of crediting customers for electricity that they generate on site in excess of their own electricity consumption. Customers with their own generation offset the electricity they would have purchased from their utility. If such customers generate more than they use in a billing period, their electric meter turns backwards to indicate their net excess generation.

Depending on individual state or utility rules, the net excess generation may be credited to their account (in many cases at the retail price), carried over to a future billing period, or ignored.

• California’s Electricity Disaster In Seven Charts
  Residential electricity prices jumped nearly 12% in 2023 and they are going higher. But the carbon intensity of power generation isn't falling and low-income ratepayers are subsidizing the rich.
• California regulators halt NEM3.0 plan, at least for now
  The proposal is widely opposed by solar advocates.
• Elon Musk and Bill Walton voice their opposition to proposed California solar rule changes
  A vote on the residential solar rule changes is slated for January 27.
• Net Metering Rethink: Rooftop Solar in Trouble (a hidden subsidy in addition to ITC)
  Solar as a grid source of electricity is uneconomic, from the rooftop to the large solar arrays. So various government interventions pushed by the solar lobby must come to the rescue.
• Solar backers pan California’s net metering plan, hint at a possible federal challenge
  Solar energy advocates reacted strongly to proposed changes to California’s net metering program. Residential solar developer Sunrun in its initial response appeared to frame a potential federal-level challenge to the proposal, which was issued...
• Solar advocates, Duke Energy reach net metering agreement in North Carolina
  Duke Energy and solar industry stakeholders have reached an agreement on net metering policy in North Carolina that will help expand distributed solar generation and benefit utility customers, the parties announced Tuesday.
• Indiana governor delivers blow to solar industry
  The solar industry provides three times as many jobs in the state of Indiana as natural gas, but governor Eric Holcomb doesn't seem to care. Despite Department of Energy statistics that show the industry's potential benefits to his constituents, Holcomb...
• Tesla dumps high capacity Powerwall as it gears up for Mark II release
  When Tesla CEO Elon Musk first unveiled the company’s home battery system, Powerwall, clean energy advocates literally jumped up and down with joy. The battery system was intended to store grid energy for use during blackouts, but it was also predicted...
• Top 5 states for home solar power installations
  The United States’ solar power market is expected to grow up to 50 percent this year, according to the nation’s largest solar industry trade association...
• Is the Christian Coalition solar power’s most unlikely new ally?
    A fight over net metering for Indiana solar power users just got a lot more interesting, after the ‘yes’ side took on an unlikely ally–the Christian Coalition of America...

Related Tags: energy, energy efficiency