What is Net Metering?
Net metering is:
- How you’re able to use every single watt of energy your solar PV system generates.
- How you can totally eliminate your electric bill.
Simply put, Hawaii’s net metering law allows for a solar PV system to send its excess generated energy back to the power grid and later withdraw the same amount for no cost.
Think of rollover minutes
When the sun shining bright during the day and your solar panels are generating more energy than you’re using, you ‘deposit’ energy in the power grid. At night, you withdraw — and the extra energy you generated during the day is ‘rolled over’ into your account at no cost.
At the end of the month, if you deposited more electricity than you used, you’ll receive a credit from the electric company. If you used more than you deposited, you’ll receive a bill.
Who can use net metering?
Not all solar systems are eligible for net metering. The current size limit on net metered systems for HECO, MECO, and HELCO is 100 kW per meter, and for KIUC it is 50 kW. Electric utilities are only required to offer net metering until total net metered capacity is equal to 1.0 percent of peak demand, half of which is reserved for systems under 10 kW and half for systems between 11 and 100 kW (11 to 50 kW on Kauai).
Key Provisions
- Requires net metering agreement with public utility
- Excess carried over monthly and settled annually
- Available for solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass projects
- Utility company provides new, compatible meter free of charge
Still confused?
That’s why we’re here. Contact us or give us a call at any time at 808-262-6600 and we’d be happy to answer your questions.
When you schedule your Free Evaluation, one of our Sunetric solar professionals will consult you on whether a PV system at your property would be eligible for net metering.
