How net metering impacts your solar energy system
Net metering is a billing agreement between you and your utility company. If your system produces more energy than you need, the excess energy will be sent to your utility grid. Your utility company can apply a value to the amount of energy your solar system contributed to the utility grid and may give you a credit for said contributions on your utility bill.
Here’s a short description of how net metering works
- System produces energy
When the sun is shining, your Vivint Solar system produces clean, renewable energy that you use to power your home. - Home consumes energy
If your solar energy system doesn’t produce enough clean energy to support your electrical needs, you use energy from the utility grid to power your home. - Production offsets consumption
When your solar energy system produces more clean energy than your home needs, the excess energy goes into the utility grid. Depending on your area, your utility company may credit you for the excess energy your solar system produces.
This works the other way as well. Let’s say your solar panels don’t produce enough electricity to power your home, like when the sun goes down at night.
Your home can pull the energy from the utility grid, which means your household will still have enough electricity to support their needs.
The big difference is that energy from Vivint Solar is cleaner and may be purchased at a lower rate than what your utility company can offer.
Keep in mind that your overall electricity costs are affected by a number of factors, including your consumption of electricity, the price you pay the utility, and the amount of sun the solar energy system receives, and may be higher even with solar.
To see what kind of net metering agreement is available in your area, visit dsireusa.org or call your local utility company.
For a more detailed explanation, check out our net metering article referenced below.