Net Metering

We know how important it is to provide lifetime monitoring and maintenance for solar panels. It’s the only way to really get the most out of going solar! Our Know True-Up® monitoring helps you maximize solar power and avoid high electric bills. Our monitoring specifically tracks your energy usage and solar production side by side. Making it easy to calculate your overall savings with solar.  In this article, we’ll dive into what net metering is, and how solar customers can avoid unexpected true-up bills.

What is Net Metering?

Net metering is also sometimes referred to as net-energy-metering, or NEM. It is a metering and billing mechanism that sends excess solar power back to the grid to be used at a later time. For example, if your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses during the day, that excess electricity is sent back to the grid. Later, when you need to use more electricity than what your solar panels are currently producing (at night, during cloudy weather, etc.) this previous excess energy is used to help provide electricity. 

At the end of the month or the end of the year, you are only billed the net of what you put on the grid and what you took off the grid. 

How Does Net Metering Work?

Your electric meter will either run backward or forward depending on if the meter is adding electricity to the grid, or taking electricity from the grid. When the meter is runs backward, it measures the energy produced from your solar panels and the amount of energy that is added to the grid. When the meter is runs forward, it means you use more energy than what your panels have produced. Therefore, you are caused to pull energy from the utility grid. It’s important to know how to read both, so you can properly review your solar billing statement and avoid unnecessary charges. 

The Benefits of Net Metering

Net metering helps homeowners take advantage of their solar system’s production and save hundreds of dollars on utility bills every year. Plus, with temperatures, sunny days, and electricity bills continuing to rise in California, solar energy is the best choice to help save the environment and your wallet.

Additionally, though not all states offer credits for solar energy, California is ahead of the game in both providing and monitoring net metering for the state. We have found that this reduces the strain on the grid’s distribution and transmission infrastructure and reduces energy loss across all solar panel users.

Time To Go Solar With Solar Negotiators

If you’re interested in going solar, Solar Negotiators is the way to go! With lifetime cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring, Solar Negotiators is your lifetime energy partner. Learn more and request a quote today!