What is Net Metering The Ultimate Guide
Net Metering is a mechanism that enables customers with solar power systems to receive credits from their electric utility company, which provides them with a safe and efficient way of disposing of their excess energy. Without net metering, everyone who has solar panels will have to be a power plant and make electricity during the day so they can use it at night. Solar power systems are connected to the electric utility grid with an inverter that handles electricity flow in both directions. The net metering system is responsible for monitoring energy consumption and generation, and it ensures customers will not see a change in their monthly bill because of excess energy produced by solar panels while only paying for what they use.
How does it work?
Net metering is an arrangement between the electricity provider and the solar customer. When a solar panel produces excess energy, it flows into a commercial power grid through Net Metering System. The meter spins backward to record the net amount of power (kWh) going into the power grid from the home or business with solar panels. At night, or on a cloudy day, the solar panels will receive power from the grid and reverse its flow back to home or business through Net Metering System. The meter spins forward to record the net amount of energy (kWh) going into your home or business from the commercial power grid. At the monthly billing cycle, you will be credited for any excess power production over the prior billing cycle.
As solar panels require a certain amount of direct sunlight to produce power, they do not operate during the night or on cloudy days. A well-designed Net Metering System should reduce output to the grid by a predetermined percentage when there is not enough sunlight for the solar panel to generate adequate energy for customer use and prevent the utility from being exposed to over-generation. The Net Metering System of a solar power system will spin forward or backward depending on the amount of energy produced by the solar panels and available from the grid respectively. It ensures that excess power is not stored in batteries because it would need to be removed and later put back into the grid at night, causing an imbalance.
Who benefits from Net Metering?
If you own a solar power system, you will benefit from net metering. It can be used to reduce your electric bill as well as increase the value of your home or business. Once installed, a Net Metering System pays for itself over time with credits that you receive from your utility company for any excess power production beyond what is used by your home or business. The credits will be added to your monthly bill and used to pay the kilowatt-hours (kWh) from the grid.
Net Metering allows you to take full advantage of the financial benefits of producing your own solar energy and reduces or eliminates your electric bill entirely with an excess amount of solar energy being sent back into the power grid for use by your neighbors.
While the potential for financial savings is great, Net Metering can also be used to demonstrate a valuable contribution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and help increase public awareness of renewable energy technology.
Net Metering is available in some form in most states, but many do not have specific guidelines or regulations surrounding it. Always check with your utility company to find out what is available in your area, limitations, and regulations that may apply before implementing a Net Metering System.
Solar panels are becoming more affordable every day as technology improves and manufacturing continues to scale up year after year. Net metering allows you to take advantage of this valuable energy source while helping the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping to clean the air we breathe.
With Net Metering, a solar energy system pays for itself by using credits from excess power produced and sent off to the grid.
Why should I care about net metering?
The main advantage of net metering is financial. Net Metering allows you to receive credits from your utility company for any excess power produced by your solar panels that are not used in the home or business. Credits will be added to your monthly electric bill and used to pay the kilowatt-hours (kWh) from the grid. If you end up with more credits than consumed kWh, you will have a credit for future use.
Net metering becomes even more beneficial if your local utility company offers time-of-use rates which charge more per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at certain times of the day. These are typically "on-peak" and "off-peak" times of the day and can result in significant savings when solar panels are producing more energy than is needed at peak hours.
Using net metering to generate excess power during on-peak periods and then using that power for free during off-peak periods means a reduction in your monthly electric bill. This is because you have not paid for electricity from the grid to charge your batteries and you are not using as much power during peak hours if you have a solar energy system.
Solar panel owners can also benefit through other incentives that are available for residents who produce their own solar power. Net Metering Systems can provide tax credits, local rebates, or increased property value on a home or business. Net metering is a solution that can be applied to new construction as well as existing structures with little or no disruption.
Net metering pros and cons
What are the benefits of net metering?
Utility companies and solar panel owners can benefit from Net Metering Systems in many ways. Here are just some of the advantages:
1) It provides financial savings. Homeowners and businesses can reduce their energy bills by taking advantage of net metering. While environmental benefits are important, that benefit is only one small aspect to consider in terms of overall costs for solar panels. Solar panel owners will see the best financial savings when they are able to take full advantage of time-of-use rates offered by local utility companies.
2) Net metering can be advantageous for both utility companies and solar panel owners. Each party benefits in different ways, but the bottom line is that it provides a real solution to an issue for which there was not previously one.
3) There are various incentives available based on each state's regulations and utility company offerings. Tax credits, rebates, and other rewards have been available in many areas for homeowners who generate their own solar power.
4) Net metering allows you to use the unused energy generated by your solar panels for future use if desired. This can be especially beneficial if time-of-use rates are offered which allow a reduction on monthly electric bills with solar panels that produce more power than needed. You can use the credits at a future time rather than have them expire.
5) It helps to protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping clean up our air.
What are some of the disadvantages of Net Metering Systems?
Net metering is not perfect. There are several drawbacks that should be considered before making any decisions. The disadvantages of net metering are:
1) Home or business owners who are leasing their solar power system will not receive any financial benefits. When the lease term is over, you have no claim to the panels and do not benefit from any savings they provide. This can be especially dangerous if the solar panels are still generating energy after the lease has expired. The responsibility and possibly even legal ramifications fall to the owner of the solar power system - not the leasing company.
2) Net metering does not apply to all utility companies so it is important that you check with your utility company regarding their net metering policies before installing a new solar panel array on your home or business property.
3) Utility companies generally charge a fee for each kilowatt produced by your solar panel array so there may be extra costs attached to the savings you may see with net metering. However, some utility companies do not require an additional fee so you should always check what your specific policy is.
4) If the electric grid goes down, any credits you have saved could potentially be lost. You can choose to bank your excess energy, but banking systems are not always available in some areas.
5) If the grid is down for an extended period of time after a disaster, your solar panels will also no longer be able to save you money since utility companies do not offer net metering for backup systems when the grid is down. However, solar panels that are on a grid and a battery system should still be able to provide some power in this situation.
If you do decide to invest in your own solar panel array, it can be a good idea to take advantage of any available tax credits or other rebates. It is important to do your research so you can learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of net metering in order to determine whether it makes sense for you.