Net Metering: The Energy that Fuels Your Home and the Grid
Net metering: This is a key billing mechanism that enables homeowners to sell excess electricity produced by their solar power systems back to the utility company. This system allows homeowners to balance their energy expenses and aid in the development of a more sustainable energy grid.
How Net Metering Works
1. How Solar Energy is Produced — The solar panels on your roof produce energy to be used in your home
*Excess energy:* When your solar system generates more electricity than you use, the surplus is pushed back into the grid.
Metering: This is a two-way meter, which means it measures the power you are consuming from the grid and the one you send back.
Credits Back: Your utility company gives you credits for excess electricity you give them.
Credit History: These credits go towards future electricity bills.
Benefits of Net Metering
Lower Electricity Bills: You can minimize your monthly power bills by producing most of your electricity needs and selling the extra power when you won’t use it.
Reduced Emission — Net metering supports the adoption of solar energy which mitigates greenhouse gas emission to make for a cleaner environment.
Well-designed solar systems combined with net metering provide * Increased Property Value*: Houses, for example, using these measures have a bigger property value.
Energy Independence:** Producing your own energy will lessen dependence on traditional power grids and the volatility of energy prices.
Challenges & Considerations
Net metering Policies:** netmetering programs vary by utility company and location.
Time-of-Use Pricing* : If your utility uses time-of-use pricing, this may affect how much value you get from the solar energy you sell back.
Grid constraints: Thesometimes, there are grid limits on how much solar energy you can send out.
NetMetering Prospects
With solar energy becoming increasingly affordable and available, it is expected that ne metering programs will continue to change as time goes on. Many utilities are