NET MEETING AND ZERO NET
BY RICHARD A. FLOREY
Marketing Director
EcoVantage Energy, inc.
www./ecovantageenergy.com
more electricity in the daytime than they do in the
evening. Net metering allows them to export that power
to the grid, thus lowering their electric bills. According
to SEIA.org, “Net metering is a billing mechanism that
credits solar energy system owners for the electricity
they add to the grid. On average, only 20-40% of a solar
energy system’s output ever goes into the grid. Exported
solar electricity serves nearby customers’ loads.” (That
is something we’ve mentioned before; you and your
neighbors benefit from clean sine-wave electricity, which
extends the life of all your appliances.)
Net Metering: Creating Jobs and Investment
Today, the solar industry employs nearly 174,000
workers due partly to net metering policies which have
allowed the solar industry to thrive. Net metering, not
unlike the 30% tax credit, increases the demand for
rooftop solar systems, which creates and sustains jobs
for installers, electricians, and manufacturers. All of
whom work in the solar supply chain.
Being a Genuine Power Broker
Well, not really. But, if you have decided to take the
plunge into PV Solar electric power generation; what
your system does with excess generation is something
you’ll have to deal with. The first thing you’ll want to
know is whether your existing provider allows putting
excess power back into the grid. In fact, that is one of
the top three questions we ask when working up a new
customer quote. If your provider allows it, a special DRG
meter will be installed that can read the out-flow, or
excess electricity your system is
generating; causing the meter to
run backwards.
The Optimum Solution: Solar Plus Battery Backup
This configuration is the best all-around use of the
technology today and seems tailor made for Texas
weather. This includes enough solar to cover any and all
household electrical use and having a battery bank sized
expertly to store enough electricity from the solar panels
to run essential household systems for up to eight hours.
That right there is the dream.
What happens to the energy I
generate?
Most solar customers produce
What Is Net Metering?
If you are producing more than
you are consuming, then the
excess energy goes to the grid.
However, if you are consuming
more than you are producing,
then all of your generated
energy is being consumed by
you, and any additional energy
requirements you have will be
provided from the grid (i.e.,
in-flow kWh).
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