Answer
Aug 11, 2020 - 01:10 PM
Currently, residential solar systems in Massachusetts are allowed to use net metering if the system rating is below 10 KW DC. Net metering means that you get credited for every kWh of electricity produced by your solar system, regardless of whether you use that electricity now or at some point in the future. For example, in the summer months, you will typically produce more electricity in a month than you consume, but the excess electricity that you did not use gets put back on the electrical grid and you get full credit for that electricity when you need to use it later, such as during the winter months. Think of it like rollover minutes on a phone plan; they can be carried forward to the next month. You can use the electricity either now or later, and you will get credit for it either way.
Net metering is done by changing the utility electric meter on your home to a special type of meter (a net meter) that can run forwards and backwards. When you are using more electricity than you are producing, the meter runs forwards, and when you are producing more electricity than you are using, the meter runs backwards. Your utility bill is based on the net meter reading each month, and for months where you produce more electricity than you use, the net meter reading for the month will be negative, and you will get a credit on your bill for the excess electricity that you put back onto the grid. This credit can be used in later months when you use more electricity than you produce. For both PPA and Customer Owned systems, you will get a net meter installed, and you will be able to take full advantage of all the electricity that you produce (if your system rating is less than 10 KW), regardless of how much of it is used in a given month.
