What is Net Metering?
Net Metering is a key benefit of owning a solar system on your home or business. When solar owners export power back onto the grid, they are currently given a credit for the retail rate of that power. In the Pacific Northwest most buildings accrue a large bank of net metering credits over the summer, when the sun is abundant and loads are typically light. These solar generators then use the bank of credits to continue to lower their bills in the fall and winter when their demand exceeds the solar production. Many homes can “zero out” their bills annually, paying only the basic charge. Net metering allows home and business owners to own their power, and hedge against electric rate increases for 25+ years.
The Conversation
Utilities want to discount the value of solar, for a variety of reasons, and offer a lower rate for exported energy. Some have proposed export rates as low as the wholesale cost of electricity. We feel this ignores the value that solar brings to home and business owners, the grid, and society. Solar allows people to lower their energy costs, it integrates seamlessly into the built environment, and it does not require trans-cascadian transmission lines. The Washington Solar Energy Industries Association (WASEIA) has successfully commissioned a multi-year study on the true value stack of “distributed” (as opposed to centralized generation like power plants or solar farms) energy resources. We are actively and successfully advocating for utilities to review the conclusions of this study before making new solar rates.
Regardless of how this conversation ends, there will very likely never be a better net metering program than the one we have today!
What This Means For You
Now is the time to act! Net metering policies typically grandfather folks into the current regime for the long term. If you want to lock in your energy pricing for 25 years, and take control of ever rising electric rates, we recommend doing so sooner than later. Reach out to us for a free, remote, and detailed quote to see if solar makes sense for your home or business.
Cheers,
Will