With net metering technology, you can sell energy to your local utility provider! How does it work? Basically, you will be charged for the amount of energy that you purchase from the utility company minus the cost of the energy you provide to the utility company.*

What is Net Metering?
Net metering measures the difference between the electricity you buy from your utility and the electricity you generate using your own solar or wind or other acceptable renewable generating equipment. Your meter keeps track of this difference as you generate electricity and take electricity from the electricity transmission grid. When you generate more than you use, your electric meter spins backward.

Normally your electric meter spins forward as it measures how many kilowatt-hours or electricity you buy, and is read by your utility once a month. A Net Meter allows you to use the electricity you generate first, reducing what you would normally buy from your utility. If you generate more electricity than you use, the excess goes through you electric meter and into the grid, spinning your meter backward. Your meter shows the net amount, measured as the difference between the electricity you generate and the electricity you purchase from your utility.

Oregon customers have a special meter for their photovoltaic system, click for more information.

What are the benefits of Net Metering?
Net Metering is a simple way to get the full value of the electricity you generate. For example, if you are a residential customer, you may not be home during the day when your system generates electricity. Net Metering allows you to “store” this excess electricity on the grid, reducing or offsetting the electricity you would otherwise have to purchase.

How do you generate your own electricity?
There are several ways. Many small generating systems are easily available and environmentally sound. Learn more about the different types of generator.  We have information about costs, performance and sizing recommendations.

Other resources
American Wind Energy Association - www.awea.org
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - www.eren.doe.gov
Fuel Cells - www.fuelcells.org
Micro-turbines -www.eren.doe.gov/distributedpower
Solar Energy Industries Association - www.seia.org

Download a printable version of this information (PDF).

*There are specific tariffs governing this process and they clarify that the customer is responsible for all costs associated with any modification to the generating facility that may be required to connect it to the larger utility system.