Net metering explained
Net metering lets a customer with solar panels send extra power to the grid and get credit on the bill. Utilities report how many such systems they have.
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 their own generation exceeded use. The generation is typically from a renewable source.
The idea in one line: when the panels make more than the house uses, the meter runs backward or the surplus becomes a credit; when they make less, you draw from the grid. How the credit is valued is the part that differs by state.
How big it is
Utilities reported 5,415,460 net-metered installations with 55,776 MW of capacity in the 2024 file, an average of 10.3 kW per installation across all sectors. The U.S. median utility with 5,000+ home accounts has 8.7 residential systems per 1,000 home accounts.
Where uptake per customer is highest
Utilities with 20,000+ home accounts, residential net-metered installations per 1,000 home accounts.
United States, Net metering: home systems per 1,000 home accounts, top eight utilities, 2024: EIA-861 survey.
CSV| Utility | State | Per 1,000 home accounts | Residential systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Gas & Electric Co | CA | 239 | 326,088 |
| Hawaiian Electric Co Inc | HI | 233 | 64,370 |
| Maui Electric Co Ltd | HI | 223 | 13,781 |
| Kauai Island Utility Cooperative | HI | 197 | 5,923 |
| City of Roseville | CA | 191 | 12,069 |
| Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc | HI | 183 | 14,373 |
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | CA | 172 | 867,523 |
| Southern California Edison Co | CA | 149 | 684,901 |
Source: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering; utilities with 20,000+ home accounts. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 452 rows.
Largest by capacity
| Utility | State | Capacity MW | Installations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | CA | 8,889 | 895,161 |
| Southern California Edison Co | CA | 5,840 | 697,053 |
| San Diego Gas & Electric Co | CA | 2,317 | 332,197 |
| Arizona Public Service Co | AZ | 2,015 | 184,914 |
| Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. | NY | 1,770 | 28,459 |
| NSTAR Electric Company | MA | 1,551 | 84,262 |
| Public Service Elec & Gas Co | NJ | 1,540 | 94,626 |
| Central Maine Power Co | ME | 1,455 | 69,229 |
Source: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 8 rows.
States with the most net-metered capacity
| State | MW | Installations |
|---|---|---|
| California | 18,837 | 2,151,564 |
| New York | 5,241 | 240,100 |
| Arizona | 3,306 | 322,413 |
| New Jersey | 3,157 | 210,798 |
| Massachusetts | 3,034 | 196,833 |
| Florida | 2,950 | 295,277 |
| Maine | 1,737 | 82,052 |
| Illinois | 1,733 | 150,084 |
Source: EIA-861 2024, Net_Metering, summed by primary state. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 8 rows.
What the numbers do not say
Credit rules differ by state and utility. This page shows how much solar is connected, not what credit you would get. The count includes other small generators that net meter, not only rooftop solar, and EIA-861 does not include batteries. The state-by-state page lists more states, and the solar payback page shows how credit rules change the sum.
Key facts and where they come from
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net-metered installations, U.S. | 5,415,460 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| Net-metered capacity, U.S., MW | 55,776 | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| Average installation size, all sectors | 10.3 kW | EIA-861 2024 Net_Metering | 2024 data |
| Median home systems per 1,000 accounts (5,000+ accounts) | 8.7 | EIA-861 2024 | 2024 data |
| Highest per customer: San Diego Gas & Electric Co | 239 per 1,000 | EIA-861 2024 | 2024 data |
| Largest capacity utility: Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | 8,889 MW | EIA-861 2024 | 2024 data |
| Largest capacity state: California | 18,837 MW | EIA-861 2024 | 2024 data |
| Utilities in the per-customer table | 452 | EIA-861 2024 (20,000+ home accounts, with data) | 2024 data |
| EIA definition | Billing programs that credit exports against billed energy | EIA Energy Glossary, eia.gov/tools/glossary | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| California net billing tariff from | April 15, 2023 | CPUC NEM Revisit page | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
Related guides
Questions
What is net metering?
A billing arrangement where electricity a customer's solar system sends to the grid is credited against what they use.
How many net-metered systems are there?
5,415,460 installations with 55,776 MW in the 2024 EIA-861 file.
Which state has the most net-metered capacity?
California with 18,837 MW.
Which large utility has the most home solar per customer?
San Diego Gas & Electric Co in California: 239 systems per 1,000 home accounts.
What is the typical level of home solar?
The median utility with 5,000+ home accounts has 8.7 net-metered home systems per 1,000 accounts.
Does this show what credit I get?
No. Credit rates are set by state rules and utility tariffs, which this site does not list.
Is net metering the same as owning solar?
Not exactly. Net-metered systems include other small generators, and some solar is not net metered.
What is the average system size?
10.3 kW across all net-metered installations, home and business, in the 2024 file.
Has California changed its rules?
Yes. The CPUC says net billing applies to interconnection applications from April 15, 2023.