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You are here: Home > Start Simple > Net MeteringNet MeteringNet metering is a financial agreement in which utility customers who own their renewable energy system to generate electricity and use a single meter to measure the net consumption bought from the utility. The generating systems are generally small (such as solar roof, wind generators or home fuel cells), with a capacity rating of 50 kilowatts or less."Net", in this context, is used in the sense of meaning "what remains after deductions". Your electric meter would run backward when the generator produces more electricity than needed. Customers are only billed for their positive net consumption, which calculated by total consumption minus total generation in a given billing cycle. Under net metering, a system owner receives retail credit for at least a portion of the electricity they generate. Most electricity meters can accurately record in both directions, allowing a no-cost method of effectively banking excess electricity production for future credit. However, the rules of how long you can keep your banked credits, and how much the credits are worth vary significantly by country and state/province. Availability by countryIn the U.S.A., as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, under Sec. 1251, all public electric utilities are now required to make available upon request net metering to their customers. In Canada, most provinces provide net metering programs.
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