Net Metering Savings by State
Enter your system size, how much of its output you send to the grid and the export credit as a share of the retail rate, and see what the difference between net metering and net billing is worth each year.
Net metering savings
D07Scenario A
Sets the electricity rate. Pick US average if you're not sure.
From EIA for US average. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
Rate used: 18.4¢/kWh · US average · EIA reference 2025–26 · 1,350 kWh per kW of solar · export rule: varies (data as of 2026-09-26) ·
Your utility’s credit for exported kWh as a share of the retail rate. 0.25 is a starting point (California NEM 3.0 averages about 25%); use your utility’s figure.
Net billing costs you per year
US average: varies.
- Value with full retail net metering
- $1,987.20
- Value with net billing (exports at a fraction)
- $1,242.00
- Yearly difference
- $745.20
- State rule
- varies
Estimate. Formula and sources are under “How it works”. Change any input; the result updates as you type.
2026 note: The federal 25C and 25D tax credits ended for installations after Dec 31, 2025. Our numbers use 2026 rules. State rebates, HEAR/HOMES programs and utility programs may still apply.
Formula
How it works
- Production = kW × your state's kWh per kW per year
- Value with full net metering = production × retail rate
- Value with net billing = (production − exported) × retail rate + exported × retail rate × export credit share
- Yearly loss = full net metering value − net billing value
Under full net metering every kWh you export offsets a kWh you buy later. Under net billing, exports earn less, so the kWh you use yourself are worth more than the ones you send out. Using more of your own output (running loads at midday, or storing it in a battery) shrinks the loss. The values are year-1 estimates; export share and credit are editable because they depend on your household and your utility.
Sources: state rules from DSIRE and state utility commissions (California NEM 3.0 averages about 25% of retail for exports; Nevada 75%; Arizona's RCP about $0.06–$0.08 per kWh); production per kW from NREL PVWatts v8; electricity rate from EIA Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.A. Net metering rules change often; we review this column every quarter.
Worked example
A worked example
An 8 kW system in Nevada makes about 13,200 kWh a year. Credited at the full 15.0¢ retail rate, that's worth $1,980.00. Nevada's rule is net billing (75%): half the output is exported at 75% of the retail rate, so the same panels are worth $1,732.50, a loss of $247.50 a year.
Reference
By state, at the default inputs
Net billing costs you per year, with this page's default inputs and each state's reference prices (EIA reference 2025–26, data as of 2026-09-26).
| US average | $745.20 | 18.4¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $627.75 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Alaska | $675.00 | 25.0¢/kWh |
| Arizona | $765.00 | 15.0¢/kWh |
| Arkansas | $526.50 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| California | $1,488.00 | 32.0¢/kWh |
| Colorado | $744.00 | 16.0¢/kWh |
| Connecticut | $1,080.00 | 30.0¢/kWh |
| Delaware | $637.50 | 17.0¢/kWh |
| District of Columbia | $712.50 | 19.0¢/kWh |
| Florida | $630.00 | 15.0¢/kWh |
| Georgia | $587.25 | 14.5¢/kWh |
| Hawaii | $1,890.00 | 42.0¢/kWh |
| Idaho | $504.00 | 12.0¢/kWh |
| Illinois | $637.50 | 17.0¢/kWh |
| Indiana | $558.00 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Iowa | $506.25 | 13.5¢/kWh |
| Kansas | $630.75 | 14.5¢/kWh |
| Kentucky | $468.00 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| Louisiana | $506.25 | 12.5¢/kWh |
| Maine | $936.00 | 26.0¢/kWh |
| Maryland | $712.50 | 19.0¢/kWh |
| Massachusetts | $1,087.50 | 29.0¢/kWh |
| Michigan | $672.75 | 19.5¢/kWh |
| Minnesota | $581.25 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Mississippi | $546.75 | 13.5¢/kWh |
| Missouri | $526.50 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| Montana | $526.50 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| Nebraska | $504.00 | 12.0¢/kWh |
| Nevada | $742.50 | 15.0¢/kWh |
| New Hampshire | $972.00 | 27.0¢/kWh |
| New Jersey | $825.00 | 22.0¢/kWh |
| New Mexico | $765.00 | 15.0¢/kWh |
| New York | $900.00 | 25.0¢/kWh |
| North Carolina | $587.25 | 14.5¢/kWh |
| North Dakota | $448.50 | 11.5¢/kWh |
| Ohio | $569.25 | 16.5¢/kWh |
| Oklahoma | $565.50 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| Oregon | $500.25 | 14.5¢/kWh |
| Pennsylvania | $666.00 | 18.5¢/kWh |
| Rhode Island | $1,087.50 | 29.0¢/kWh |
| South Carolina | $607.50 | 15.0¢/kWh |
| South Dakota | $526.50 | 13.0¢/kWh |
| Tennessee | $526.50 | 13.5¢/kWh |
| Texas | $674.25 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Utah | $540.00 | 12.0¢/kWh |
| Vermont | $792.00 | 22.0¢/kWh |
| Virginia | $604.50 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Washington | $378.00 | 12.0¢/kWh |
| West Virginia | $534.75 | 15.5¢/kWh |
| Wisconsin | $630.00 | 17.5¢/kWh |
| Wyoming | $543.75 | 12.5¢/kWh |
Questions
FAQ
What is NEM 3.0?
California's net billing tariff. Exports earn about 25% of the retail rate on average. For an 8 kW system exporting half its output, that cuts the year-1 value from $3,968.00 to $2,480.00, a $1,488.00 loss.
Which states still have full net metering?
In our data, most states list a retail rule, including New York (retail, VDER for new), Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Minnesota. Rules change often and can differ by utility; check the rule shown on your state's page and confirm it with your utility.
Does a battery fix net billing?
It reduces the loss by lowering what you export. In California, cutting the exported share from 0.7 to 0.3 of output shrinks the yearly loss from $2,083.20 to $892.80 on the 8 kW example. Price the battery with the Battery Size calculator before you decide.
What export credit should I enter?
Use your utility's export rate divided by your retail rate. If you're paid 8¢ for exports and pay 32¢ for power, enter 0.25.
Is Arizona net metering?
No. Arizona is net billing in our data, with export credits around $0.06–$0.08 per kWh under the RCP. At an export credit of 0.25 and 50% exported, an 8 kW system there loses about $765.00 a year against full net metering.
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