SolarNet and Net Metering

Questions and Answers

Publication date: April 2000

Summary
What is net metering? Net metering is shorthand for getting paid the same price for each unit of electricity generated by a solar electric system and exported to the grid during daylight as the electricity company charges for each unit of its electricity that is imported from the grid when it is dark. This is equivalent to allowing a solar household's normal electricity meter to run backwards when solar power goes out from the house to the grid, although in practice it may be done by installing a second meter to measure electricity exports.