Solar Panel Net Metering System

Net metering update may 2019.

Solar panel net metering system.

In essence net metering is like having the grid serve as a giant solar battery. How does net metering work. Southern california edison s net metering program makes it possible for solar energy system owners who are connected to the grid to receive credit for their excess solar electricity. For example if a residential customer has a pv system on their roof it may generate more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours.

In summary an electric utility must offer to continue to make net metering available to eligible customer generators on a first come first served basis until the earlier of either june 30 2029. Virtual net metering differs in that it allows multiple customers to participate in net metering with a shared solar energy system. Solar panels don t produce energy at night which is typically when homes consume the most energy. With net metering the homeowner is only billed for the net energy used each month that is the difference between the energy produced by the solar power system and the energy consumed by the house over the monthly billing period.

This also happens to be when homes use the least amount of energy. Thus when your solar panels are overproducing you can store it in your storage array or in the grid depending on the context of peak pricing. If you install an energy storage system to take your home off the grid you won t have access to the benefits of net metering. However in the case when you do have access to utility net metering installing a hybrid solar system can still make a lot of sense in an effort to maximize off peak electricity prices.

Getting a solar system installed now will lock you into nem 2 0 for 20 years. In most cases staying connected to the electric grid is your best option while home solar battery systems can account for hour by hour variations in solar electricity. Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. The 2019 washington state legislature updated washington state s solar net metering statute via e2ssb 5223.

Under this policy shared residences like apartment buildings can build a centralized solar system with individual tenants metered and billed under their own account.