Net metering by state
Net metering is how a home with solar panels gets credit for the power it sends to the grid. The rules are set by each state and often by each utility. The data shows where it is used, not what it pays.
What it is
EIA defines net metering as utility tariffs or billing programs that let certain customers reduce the volume of billed electricity by what they sold back to the grid when self-generation exceeded use. In the EIA-861 2024 file, utilities reported 5,305,160 net-metered installations with 56,569 MW of capacity across the 50 states and DC.
The median state has 15 net-metered home systems per 1,000 home accounts. The spread is wide: Hawaii has 220, while 1 state or DC reports no net-metered capacity.
Where home solar is most common
United States, Net-metered home systems per 1,000 home accounts, 2024: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering.
CSVCapacity is the other way to count. Large states with many customers lead on MW even when the share of homes is smaller.
| State | Home systems | Home systems per 1,000 accounts | Capacity, MW (all sectors) | Home price 2025, cents per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 98,447 | 220 | 665 | 40.59 |
| California | 2,099,871 | 148 | 18,837 | 32.54 |
| Nevada | 134,326 | 102 | 1,138 | 13.15 |
| Arizona | 317,245 | 101 | 3,306 | 15.32 |
| Colorado | 182,376 | 71 | 1,411 | 15.85 |
| Connecticut | 103,856 | 67 | 1,267 | 29.38 |
| Massachusetts | 189,826 | 65 | 3,034 | 30.48 |
| Utah | 81,190 | 64 | 703 | 13.07 |
| New Jersey | 201,596 | 54 | 3,157 | 22.63 |
| New Mexico | 50,219 | 54 | 418 | 15.08 |
| Maryland | 108,087 | 44 | 1,268 | 19.48 |
| Rhode Island | 17,335 | 38 | 589 | 29.46 |
Source: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering, summed over utilities by primary state; home accounts from EIA retail sales 2024; prices EIA retail sales 2025. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 51 rows.
Largest by capacity
| State | Capacity, MW | Installations | Average size, kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,837 | 2,151,564 | 8.8 |
| New York | 5,241 | 240,100 | 21.8 |
| Arizona | 3,306 | 322,413 | 10.3 |
| New Jersey | 3,157 | 210,798 | 15.0 |
| Massachusetts | 3,034 | 196,833 | 15.4 |
| Florida | 2,950 | 295,277 | 10.0 |
| Maine | 1,737 | 82,052 | 21.2 |
| Illinois | 1,733 | 150,084 | 11.5 |
| Colorado | 1,411 | 188,191 | 7.5 |
| Texas | 1,278 | 139,107 | 9.2 |
Source: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 10 rows.
California reports 18,837 MW net metered. EIA-860 lists 24,831 MW of utility-scale solar nameplate there in 2025, so net-metered rooftop and small commercial systems are a different and large pool.
What changed in California
The California Public Utilities Commission says its 2022 decision (D.22-12-056) did not affect customers who submitted a NEM interconnection application by April 14, 2023. It set up the net billing tariff (NBT) as the successor to NEM 2.0 for customers who apply on or after April 15, 2023.
That is one state. Other states have changed or are changing their credit rules, and we did not verify them state by state. Before you size a system, ask your utility for the current tariff in writing.
What the data does not show
EIA-861 counts systems and MW. It does not give the credit rate, the cap on system size, how long credit carries over, or whether a state has replaced net metering with net billing. We list no credit rates here: no data. Check your state commission's page on net metering or the utility tariff.
The home price in the table is the 2025 average, the value of a kWh you no longer buy. Where credit equals the retail price, a high price makes solar more valuable. Where credit is lower, the gap matters more.
Key facts and where they come from
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net-metered installations, U.S. | 5,305,160 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| Net-metered capacity, U.S., MW | 56,569 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| States and DC reporting no net-metered capacity | 1 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| Median state, home systems per 1,000 accounts | 15 | EIA-861 2024 and EIA retail sales | 2024 data |
| Highest state: Hawaii, per 1,000 accounts | 220 | EIA-861 2024 and EIA retail sales | 2024 data |
| Highest capacity: California, MW | 18,837 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| CA net billing tariff applies to applications from | April 15, 2023 | CPUC, NEM Revisit page, cpuc.ca.gov | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| CA NEM 2.0 stays for applications filed by | April 14, 2023 | CPUC, NEM Revisit page, cpuc.ca.gov | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| EIA definition of net metering | Billing programs that credit exported energy | EIA Energy Glossary, eia.gov/tools/glossary | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| U.S. average home price | 17.30 cents per kWh | EIA retail sales, 2025 | 2025 annual |
Related guides
Questions
Which state has the most net-metered capacity?
California, with 18,837 MW in the EIA-861 2024 file.
Which state has the most home solar per customer?
Hawaii: 220 net-metered home systems per 1,000 home accounts.
Is net metering available in every state?
Not in this data: 1 state or DC reports no net-metered capacity. That does not prove a state has no program.
Does net metering pay the retail price?
It depends on the state and utility. This site does not list credit rates.
What is net billing?
A successor in some places to net metering, where exports are credited at a different rate. California's net billing tariff covers applications from April 15, 2023, per the CPUC.
Does this data include batteries?
No. EIA-861 net metering counts systems and MW, not storage.
Where do I check my utility's rules?
On your utility's tariff page and your state commission's site. Ask for the current rate in writing.
How current is this?
Net-metering data is for 2024. Prices are 2025 annual. Check for newer state decisions.