What is net metering and how does it work?

Chances are you don’t stay up late at night pondering the meaning of net metering. But as you get closer to going solar, it’s good to know a little about how net metering works. Don’t worry. It won’t take long. In fact, we can cover it in a couple steps:

Once you go solar, crews install a net meter on your house so your utility company can track how much solar electricity is sent to the grid. It tracks the power you use and power you produce. For example, during a sunny day, the panels crank out lots of solar electricity to power your TVs, computer, refrigerator, air conditioner and more. If the system produces more electricity than you use, say on an extra sunny afternoon, the leftover electricity is sent to the utility grid. The net meter spins backward and you’re given a credit for that energy. Any time you draw from utility power, you will draw on your banked credits before drawing on billable utility power.

Now, say it’s dark out and there’s not much solar power being generated, you still need to use electricity. So you’ll get it from the utility grid, and your meter will spin forward to record how much you use. Simple as that!

Now that you know the basics about how net metering works are you ready to make the switch to solar? A few minutes on the phone with one of Sunrun’s experienced solar energy consultants is all it takes to begin! Choose solar now, lock in low rates for the future and stop worrying about rising energy costs, hidden fees, and surprise hikes on your electric bill. With flexible financing options, not to mention federal, state and local tax incentives that keep driving down the cost of solar, it’s never been easier to make the leap. Get a free estimate and find out exactly how much money you could save with Sunrun.