Net-metering is the provision in many state laws that require power companies to give you credit for the solar power you generate through a REnU. This keeps your costs as low as they can be. You see through your existing net-metering laws, you have the right to generate electricity and sell any excess to your utility.
Although net-metering laws vary throughout the States, the basic understanding is that any excess electricity delivered to the utility will be held as a credit; and if you use up that credit in the times that the REnU is not generating electricity, then you – in effect – will zero-out your credit with your utility. So long as you do not use excess electricity, then you should only have to pay a minimum line-connection fee per month to your local utility. This small monthly fee that you pay to your utility is essentially the cost of having a redundant electricity supply and a virtual storage for your self-generated electricity.
Net-metering laws do vary state by state. A map of the existing net-metering laws is given below. Because some net-metering laws are unfavorable to customers, Citizenre recommends that no more than 100% of historical power usage be planned for in a customers REnU.
Additionally, because the absence of a net-metering law would adversely affect our customer, we are not presently offering the REnU program in those areas that do not afford a net-metering law. In the alternative, we are able to provide those customers other options such as Green Tags (REC's) and System Purchase to support green, renewable energy.