Net metering is the billing arrangement that makes a grid-tied solar system pay off, especially for homes without batteries.
During the day, your panels often produce more electricity than your home is using. Instead of wasting that surplus, your meter sends it to the grid and your utility credits your account for it. At night, or any time your panels are not keeping up, you draw power from the grid and those credits offset the cost.
In effect, the grid acts like a giant battery: you store value during sunny hours and spend it later. The exact credit rate and rules vary by utility and state, which affects how much you save. We factor your local net metering policy into your savings estimate.