Solar Panel Electrical Storage: US States With Net Metering & How it Works
Editors Note: (To See If Your Utility Provider or State offers net metering to store solar electricity request a list at the bottom of this article.)
Discussions of alternative energy solutions involve learning some new terms. Solar electricity as a solution is fairly easy to understand, but its practical application involves the beaurocracies of the utility providers and government agencies, and the result is new terminology. "Net metering" is a term that is key to understanding how most practical systems will work and become affordable for the majority of solar system users now and in the future.
Net Metering by Reggie Rasmussen
October 25, 2007
Any photovoltaic solar system will at times produce more electricity than is currently being used.
So what happens to this excess electricity?
The excess electricity will go to one of two places –
1. A battery storage unit
2. To the utility company
Solar systems set up with battery storage capacity are very expensive and cause damage to the environment. Solar systems with batteries, while producing clean renewable energy leave a big problem in the waste disposal of the batteries when the useful life has been completed. Consumers that are looking to help the environment with solar electricity often defeat their purpose when batteries are used as a part of the system.
The other common method for excess electricity is to send it back to the current utility provider. This method is referred to as net metering. When the excess electricity is sent back to the utility provider, the customer’s meter will spin backwards. The customer is issued a credit for this excess electricity so that when it is needed such as on cloudy days or at night, the customer will draw electricity from their current provider. They will not be charged for this electricity as long as they have credits built up from the meter spinning backward when the excess was fed into the grid.
Why would the power company allow for net metering?
Net metering solves one of the utility providers biggest problems, PEAK POWER. Every utility company has times when more power is used than other times. This is usually during the summer days when the weather is hot and customers are using air conditioning. Since electricity cannot be stored, the power companies are forced to have production facilities that will handle a maximum load even though peak consumption will last for a very short time. This means that they must build factories that are not needed most of the time.
Net metering solves this problem for the utility providers. Most net metering is accomplished when photovoltaic solar systems are installed. These systems produce electricity when the sun is shinning, which by fate, is when the utility providers have their peak production problems. If they
allow net metering, excess electricity flows back into the grid when it is needed the most and everybody wins.
One problem. If 100% of all households had solar systems with net metering and not batteries, it would be great for the environment and for solar companies, but not so great for the utility providers. If almost all electricity is generated from solar all of the sudden utility companies cannot make a profit. Why is that a problem? The fact is that the solar industry is dependent on the power company for the infrastructure. Power lines, factories that produce power for backup, and transmission services are an essential part of providing low cost solar systems that use net metering. Keep in mind that systems with batteries are expensive and environmentally toxic.
Currently the two industries are in alignment. To resolve this dilemma, utilities have placed a limit as to how much electricity can be net metered. Some utility providers have caps as a percentage of the customers while other utility providers cap the amount of power that can be net metered. As solar becomes more popular, it is important to keep in mind these net-metered caps. When the caps are reached the customer will have to use batteries for storage capacity; this of course will make the systems more expensive and more environmentally unfriendly. Solarjoules has learned that one utility provider in New York has already reached their cap. (Click Here)
If you are convinced that solar is great and you want to get in before your utility company hits the net meter cap - but buying a solar panel system is just too expensive consider this: Citizenre has a program that allows customers to install a home solar power system and no purchase is required. A deposit of $500-1000 will be collected and the deposit is refundable at the end of the service contract with interest. Citizenre will rent the system to the consumer and the rent in most cases is covered by the reduction in the bill from the current utility provider. A complete solar system can be installed on your home and the amount that you will spend is usually the same or less than the amount you are already paying - all with no upfront charges.
If net metering is offered in your state it will be in BOLD in the list below.
States without any utilities offering net metering will be in ITALICS.
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
SolarJoules believes that offering net metering is part of the solution to reducing our carbon emissions and becoming energy self reliant in this nation. If you believe that your utility provider or state should be offering net metering to everyone on the grid and by utilities in every state. If your state or utility provider does not offer net metering Click Here to link to a petition to ask your Governor, State Representative and Utility Company to change policy and reduce our dependence on carbon fuels.
Spin Your Electric Meter BackwardsSign Up Now! and solarjoules will take the necessary steps to help you reserve your system.
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(5.0 out of 5)