Net metering by state in 2026: the rule for new rooftop solar in every state, with EIA customer counts
- Data
- U.S. EIA Form EIA-861 Net Metering file (2025 final data, with 2020 to 2024 files); state statutes, rules and commission orders
- Period
- 2020 to 2025 (EIA); rules as of 2026-10-27
- Release used
- 2026-10-07
- Next release
- EIA-861 early release data: August 2027 (EIA release page)
- Geography
- 50 states and the District of Columbia
- Sources
- 76 (63 official)
Net metering credits rooftop solar owners for power sent to the grid, traditionally at the full retail rate. As of 2026-10-27, 18 jurisdictions still offer it to new residential customers, 19 use net billing or a successor tariff, 9 buy monthly excess at avoided cost and 5 have no statewide rule. EIA counted 5.5 million net-metered installations in 2025.
Net metering by state: 18 jurisdictions still credit new rooftop solar at full retail
Of the 50 states and DC, 18 still give new residential rooftop solar customers full retail credit for exported power, 19 have moved to net billing or a successor tariff, 9 credit monthly excess at avoided cost and 5 have no statewide rule. The table below gives the statute or order behind each rule.
Net metering: A billing arrangement in which electricity a customer's system sends to the grid offsets electricity the customer buys, usually as kilowatt-hour credits carried forward from month to month. EIA's form instructions note that the credit is typically, but not necessarily, at the retail rate.
Net billing (successor tariff): A design that charges retail for all grid electricity used and credits exports at a separate, usually lower, export rate, often measured instantly or in short intervals rather than over a month.
Avoided cost: The cost a utility avoids by not generating or buying the energy itself, typically close to a wholesale energy price.
Classification of statutes and commission orders checked 2026-10-27
Source: state statutes, administrative rules and commission orders listed in Table 1; ECW classification
Each state was classified by the rule a new residential customer of an investor-owned utility gets today. Full retail net metering means monthly net excess is carried forward at retail value; a year-end leftover may still be paid at avoided cost, as in New Jersey, Florida, Wyoming and Washington. Monthly netting with excess at avoided cost means usage and generation net within the month at retail, but the month's surplus is bought at a lower rate. Net billing or successor tariff covers named replacement tariffs that credit exports below retail.
Show all 51 rows
| State | Rule for new residential rooftop solar | How exports are credited | Statute or order | Applies to new customers | Residential size limit | Source ids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No statewide rule | No state net metering rule found; Alabama Power serves customer generation under Rate Rider RGB, which adds a capacity reservation charge of $5.41/kW (secondary service) | Alabama Power Rate Rider RGB, APSC order of 2021-11-05, Informal Docket U-4226 | April 2022 billings | Not verified | s20 |
| Alaska | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Monthly net excess credited at the utility's non-firm power rate; AEA pilot tops residential excess up to the full retail rate until funds run out or 2028-06-30 | 3 AAC 50.900 to 50.949 (3 AAC 50.930) | In force | Aggregate limit 1.5% of utility average retail demand | s21;s22 |
| Arizona | Net billing or successor tariff | Exports credited at the Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) export rate, locked 10 years; TEP rate $0.0462/kWh from 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30; annual cut capped at 10% | ACC-approved RCP (APS rider: net billing solar purchase rider) | Interconnection requests since 2018-09-20 (TEP) | Not verified | s23;s24 |
| Arkansas | Net billing or successor tariff | Net billing with instantaneous netting; exports credited at the utility's avoided cost | Act 278 of 2023 (effective 2023-03-13); APSC rules and tariffs revised by 2023-12-31 | Systems installed after 2024-09-30 | Not verified | s25;s26 |
| California | Net billing or successor tariff | Net Billing Tariff: exports credited at a value-to-grid rate (Energy Export Credits), usually below retail | CPUC D.22-12-056, adopted 2022-12-15 | Interconnection applications on or after 2023-04-15 | Not verified | s27;s28 |
| Colorado | Full retail net metering | Excess kWh carried forward month to month at 1:1 against retail use; year-end payout or indefinite carry-forward election | 4 CCR 723-3, Rules 3650 to 3699 (Rule 3664) | In force | 120% of usage (as stated by Colorado Springs Utilities) | s29 |
| Connecticut | Net billing or successor tariff | Residential Renewable Energy Solutions (RRES) netting or buy-all tariffs replaced legacy net metering | Public Act 19-35 (CGS 16-244z); PURA decision February 2021; Program Year 5 decision 2025-12-17 (Docket 25-08-02); 2026 law orders new successors by April 2028 | Program launched January 2022 (six-year program) | Not verified | s30;s5 |
| Delaware | Full retail net metering | kWh credits; since 2024-01-01 monthly excess kWh credit valued at volumetric supply plus distribution charges (societal benefit charges excluded) | 26 Del. C. 1014(d) and (e) | In force | 25 kW (residential, DP&L, DEC, municipals) | s31 |
| District of Columbia | Full retail net metering | Excess generation credited in kWh on the next bill; year-end excess above 100% of annual use paid at the generation rate | 15 DCMR Chapter 9 (compiled, updated 2025-04-07) | In force | Allowable generation threshold 200% of 12-month usage from 2024 | s32 |
| Florida | Full retail net metering | Energy credits offset usage in later months for up to 12 months; unused credits paid at the as-available energy rate at year end | Rule 25-6.065, F.A.C. (effective 2008-04-07) | In force (investor-owned utilities) | 2 MW | s33 |
| Georgia | Net billing or successor tariff | Georgia Power uses instantaneous netting with exports credited near avoided cost; the monthly netting pilot (5,000 customers or 32 MW) was not expanded | Georgia PSC 2022 Georgia Power rate case order (December 2022) | In force since the 2022 rate case | Not verified | s34 |
| Hawaii | Net billing or successor tariff | Net energy metering closed in 2015; new customers take the Smart DER Tariff, Export Rider credits on Oahu of $0.135/kWh daytime, $0.189 overnight, $0.329 evening peak | HPUC Docket 2014-0192: D&O of 2015-10-12; D&O 40418 (Smart DER) | Smart DER launched 2024-04-01 | Not verified | s35;s36;s37 |
| Idaho | Net billing or successor tariff | Idaho Power: real-time net billing, exports credited at an avoided-cost export credit rate (ECR); ECR updates suspended until 2028 | IPUC Order 36048 (2023-12-29); Order 36785 (2025-09-30) | Non-legacy customers; ECR update effective 2025-10-01 | Not verified | s38;s39 |
| Illinois | Net billing or successor tariff | Monthly netting; monthly excess credited only at kWh supply charges (energy, capacity, transmission), not distribution | 220 ILCS 5/16-107.5(n) | Customers applying on or after 2025-01-01 | Not verified | s40 |
| Indiana | Net billing or successor tariff | Excess distributed generation (EDG): outflow credited at 1.25 times the average marginal price of electricity | IC 8-1-40; IURC Cause 45506 order 2022-01-26 (I&M) | Net metering closed to new systems no later than 2022-07-01 | Not verified | s41 |
| Iowa | Full retail net metering | Net billing (monthly kWh credits) or inflow-outflow billing at the retail volumetric rate until a value-of-solar rate is adopted (petition after 2027-07-01 or 5% penetration) | Iowa Code 476.49 | In force | Capacity to produce no more than 110% of annual usage | s42 |
| Kansas | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Monthly net excess credited at no less than 100% of the utility's monthly system average cost of energy | K.S.A. 66-1263 to 66-1271 (66-1266), amended L. 2024, ch. 60 | Systems interconnected on or after 2014-07-01 | Aggregate cap 4% of peak demand from 2026-07-01 | s43 |
| Kentucky | Net billing or successor tariff | All exported kWh compensated at a PSC-set export rate (LG&E 6.924 cents/kWh and KU 7.366 cents/kWh set in 2021); prior 1:1 kWh credits kept for 25 years | KRS 278.466 (2019 amendments); PSC LG&E/KU order 2021-09-24 | LG&E/KU systems in service on or after 2021-09-25 | Not verified | s44;s45 |
| Louisiana | Net billing or successor tariff | Customer pays retail for all energy bought; exports credited at avoided cost | LPSC General Order of 2019-09-19 (R-33929) | Interconnection or installation after 2019-12-31 | Not verified | s46 |
| Maine | Full retail net metering | Net energy billing with kilowatt-hour credits; LD 1777 (2025) left the rooftop program unchanged | 35-A M.R.S. 3209-A; LD 1777 (2025) | In force | Under 5 MW | s47;s48 |
| Maryland | Full retail net metering | Net excess generation accrues up to 12 months (or indefinitely by election); year-end value at the generation or commodity rate | Md. Public Utilities Article 7-306; H.B. 1532 (signed May 2026) requires a lower-rate successor | Until the earlier of 2027-07-01 or the 3,000 MW cap (H.B. 1532) | Statewide program cap 3,000 MW | s49;s5 |
| Massachusetts | Full retail net metering | Excess Class I, II or III net metering credits carried forward month to month | M.G.L. c. 164, s. 139 | In force | Not verified | s50 |
| Michigan | Net billing or successor tariff | Inflow-outflow billing: outflow in each pricing period credited at an outflow rate set in each utility's rate case, below retail | MCL 460.1173 and 460.1177 (2016 PA 342); MPSC Order U-18383 (2018-04-18) | Each utility's first rate case filed after 2018-06-01 | 110% of prior 12-month use; program cap 10% of peak load | s51;s52;s53 |
| Minnesota | Full retail net metering | Systems under 40 kW may elect compensation for net input at the average retail utility energy rate | Minn. Stat. 216B.164 | In force | Under 40 kW for retail-rate election | s54 |
| Mississippi | Net billing or successor tariff | Net Renewable Generation Rules: exports credited at avoided cost plus a 2.5 cents/kWh benefits adder (25-year term); described by the PSC as not traditional net metering | MPSC order approving Net Renewable Generation Rules, 2022-07-12 | In force since 2022 | Not verified | s55;s56 |
| Missouri | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Monthly excess credited at no less than the avoided fuel cost; credits expire after 12 months | RSMo 386.890 (Net Metering and Easy Connection Act) | In force | 100 kW | s57 |
| Montana | Full retail net metering | Excess kWh credited to the next bill; unused credits granted to the utility after 12 months | MCA 69-8-603 | In force | Not verified | s58 |
| Nebraska | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Monthly net excess credited at the utility's avoided cost of electricity supply; monetary credits carried forward | Neb. Rev. Stat. 70-2001 to 70-2005 (70-2003) | In force | Not verified | s59 |
| Nevada | Net billing or successor tariff | Excess credited at 95%, 88%, 81% or 75% of the retail rate by statutory tier; Sierra Pacific new customers moved to 15-minute netting | NRS 704.7732 (customers accepting on or after 2017-06-15); PUCN Docket 25-03006 (Sierra Pacific NMR-2025) | Sierra Pacific: NMR-2025 (15-minute netting) for new customers; NV Energy asked to close NMR-405 as of 2025-10-01 | 25 kW for the statutory credit | s60;s61;s6 |
| New Hampshire | Net billing or successor tariff | NEM 2.0: monthly exports credited at 100% of energy and transmission but 25% of distribution; legacy date 2040-12-31 | NHPUC Order 26,029 (2017-06-23); Order 27,074 (2024-11-18) kept NEM 2.0 levels | In force | Over 1 MW excluded (except municipal hosts) | s62 |
| New Jersey | Full retail net metering | Credited at the full retail rate for each kWh up to annual use; leftover credits paid at avoided cost of wholesale power at the end of the annualized period | N.J.S.A. 48:3-87; N.J.A.C. 14:8-4; BPU Docket QO24090723 (successor review opened) | In force | Not verified | s63 |
| New Mexico | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Systems up to 10 kW: monthly excess credited at the utility's energy (avoided cost) rate or as kWh credits carried forward, at the utility's option | 17.9.570.14 NMAC (replaced 2022-05-24) | In force | 10 kW for this section | s64 |
| New York | Full retail net metering | Phase One NEM retained for mass-market on-site systems, plus a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of $0.69 to $1.09 per kW DC | NYPSC Case 15-E-0751: NEM Successor Order 2020-07-16; order adopting successor tariff filings 2021-08-12 | On-site systems installed after 2022-01-01 | Not verified | s65 |
| North Carolina | Net billing or successor tariff | Duke Rider RSC: time-of-use with critical peak pricing, minimum monthly bill, net exports credited at avoided cost each month (Rider NMB bridge option limited) | G.S. 62-126.4; NCUC Order Approving Revised Net Metering Tariffs 2023-03-23, Docket E-100 Sub 180 | Residential customers from 2023-10-01 | Grid access fee above 15 kW AC | s66 |
| North Dakota | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Net energy billing for qualifying facilities of 100 kW or less; purchases at avoided cost | N.D. Admin. Code 69-09-07-09 | In force | 100 kW | s67 |
| Ohio | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Monthly excess converted to a monetary credit at the energy component of the standard service offer, carried forward | Ohio Adm. Code 4901:1-10-28 | Rule effective 2024-04-08 | Not verified | s68 |
| Oklahoma | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Excess production purchased at the utility's avoided energy cost, paid or credited the next billing cycle | 17 O.S. 156; OAC 165:40-9 | In force | 300 kW | s69 |
| Oregon | Full retail net metering | Excess kWh credited month to month; leftover credits at the March cycle go to low-income assistance, the customer or other uses; statute lets a utility value excess at avoided cost | ORS 757.300 | In force | 25 kW (commission may raise for public utilities) | s70 |
| Pennsylvania | Full retail net metering | Credited at the full retail kWh rate (generation, transmission, distribution); excess carried forward to year end | 52 Pa. Code 75.13 | In force | Not verified | s71 |
| Rhode Island | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | Production above 100% of use earns excess credits at the wholesale ISO-New England energy clearing price | R.I. Gen. Laws 39-26.4-2 and 39-26.4-3 | In force | 25 kW threshold for full excess credit | s72 |
| South Carolina | Net billing or successor tariff | Solar Choice Metering: time-of-use rates, minimum bill ($30.00 Duke, $13.50 Dominion as of 2022-01-01), excess credits of $0.0270 (DEC), $0.0230 (DEP), $0.03363 (DESC) per kWh | S.C. Code 58-40-20 (Act 62 of 2019); PSC Dockets 2020-264-E, 2020-265-E, 2020-229-E | Applications from 2021-06-01 | 20 kW AC residential | s73;s74 |
| South Dakota | No statewide rule | No net metering; the Legislature concluded mandatory net metering is not in the public interest | SD PUC statement; bills HB 1207 (2013), HB 1232 (2015), HB 1216 (2016) not enacted | Not applicable | Not applicable | s75 |
| Tennessee | No statewide rule | No state net metering rule found; TVA's Dispersed Power Production program buys output at TVA's avoided cost | TVA Dispersed Power Production program (as described by a local power company) | Not applicable | Up to 80 MW (DPP) | s76 |
| Texas | No statewide rule | No statewide mandate; utilities or retail electric providers may contract to credit surplus; in choice areas surplus is sold to the retail provider at an agreed value | Tex. Util. Code 39.916(h) and (j) | Not applicable | Not applicable | s77 |
| Utah | Net billing or successor tariff | Rocky Mountain Power Schedule 137 Net Billing Service: exports credited at an export credit rate updated annually | Utah PSC Docket 17-035-61: order 2020-10-30; update procedures order 2021-08-11 | In force since the 2020 order | Not verified | s78 |
| Vermont | Full retail net metering | Monthly excess credited at the statewide blended residential rate ($0.2071/kWh from the 2026 update) plus REC and siting adjustors | 30 V.S.A. 8010; PUC Rule 5.100; biennial update order 2026-05-29 (Case 26-0291-INV) | In force | Category I up to 15 kW | s79;s80 |
| Virginia | Full retail net metering | Dominion NEM 2.0 keeps 12-month energy-based netting; SCC rejected real-time netting | Va. Code 56-594; SCC Case PUR-2025-00079 final order 2026-04-30, clarification 2026-05-20 | In force | 25 kW residential | s81;s82 |
| Washington | Full retail net metering | Excess kWh credited to the next bill; retail net metering required until 2029-06-30 or 4% of 1996 peak; PacifiCorp successor approved for 2027 | RCW 80.60.020 and 80.60.030 | In force | Not verified | s83;s84;s6 |
| West Virginia | Net billing or successor tariff | Mon Power and Potomac Edison: 9.34 cents/kWh export credit for residential applicants from 2025-01-01; Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power: net billing at avoided cost approved 2025 | W. Va. Code 24-2F-8; PSC approval of settlement 2024-03-26; 2025 PSC order (AEP companies) | Applications on or after 2025-01-01 (FirstEnergy) | Not verified | s85;s86;s6 |
| Wisconsin | No statewide rule | No statewide rule; net metering offered under each utility's tariff, with size thresholds set utility by utility | PSC docket 5-EI-157 staff memo 2024-03-20 | Not applicable | Utility-specific | s87 |
| Wyoming | Full retail net metering | Excess kWh credited to the next month; unused credits sold to the utility at avoided cost each January | W.S. 37-16-101 to 37-16-104 | In force | 25 kW | s88 |
Rules shown are the statewide rules for investor-owned utility customers. Cooperatives and municipal utilities may follow different rules. Source ids refer to the reference list.
Source: [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][5][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][6][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] Alabama Power (APSC-approved tariff); Regulatory Commission of Alaska; Alaska Energy Authority; Tucson Electric Power; Arizona Public Service; Arkansas Public Service Commission; University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; California Public Utilities Commission; California Public Utilities Commission; Colorado Springs Utilities; Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; Delaware General Assembly; DC Public Service Commission; Florida Public Service Commission; Solar Power World; Hawaii Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii Public Utilities Commission; Idaho Public Utilities Commission; Idaho Public Utilities Commission; Illinois General Assembly; Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission; Iowa Legislature; Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes; Kentucky General Assembly; Kentucky Public Service Commission; Louisiana Public Service Commission; Maine Legislature; Maine Office of the Public Advocate; Maryland General Assembly; NC Clean Energy Technology Center; Massachusetts Legislature; Michigan Legislature; Michigan Legislature; Michigan Public Service Commission; Minnesota Revisor of Statutes; Mississippi Public Service Commission; Mississippi Power (MPSC-approved tariff); Missouri Revisor of Statutes; Montana Legislature; Nebraska Legislature; NC Clean Energy Technology Center; Nevada Legislature; NV Energy (Sierra Pacific Power); New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission; New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; New Mexico Public Regulation Commission; New York Public Service Commission; North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff; North Dakota Legislative Council; Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; Oklahoma Corporation Commission; Oregon Legislature; Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin; Rhode Island General Assembly; South Carolina Legislature; South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff; South Dakota Public Utilities Commission; Harriman Utility Board (TVA local power company); Texas Legislature; Public Service Commission of Utah; Vermont Public Utility Commission; Vermont Public Utility Commission; Virginia General Assembly; Virginia State Corporation Commission; Washington State Legislature; Washington State Legislature; West Virginia Legislature; WV MetroNews (The Dominion Post); Public Service Commission of Wisconsin; Wyoming Legislature
| Rule type | States (incl. DC) | Net-metered residential PV installations 2025 | Share of US total (%) | Per 1,000 residential customers | Change 2020 to 2025 (%) | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full retail net metering | 18 | 1,734,509 | 31.5 | 33.8 | 133.9 | CO, DE, DC, FL, IA, ME, MD, MA, MN, MT, NJ, NY, OR, PA, VT, VA, WA, WY |
| Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 9 | 185,338 | 3.4 | 12.9 | 180.4 | AK, KS, MO, NE, NM, ND, OH, OK, RI |
| Net billing or successor tariff | 19 | 3,433,395 | 62.3 | 59.8 | 92.5 | AZ, AR, CA, CT, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MS, NV, NH, NC, SC, UT, WV |
| No statewide rule | 5 | 160,380 | 2.9 | 7.4 | 129.7 | AL, SD, TN, TX, WI |
Counts include DC. Most installations in net billing states were enrolled before the successor rule took effect.
Source: [1][2] U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Energy Information Administration
5.5 million residential solar installations were net metered in 2025, up 107.2% in five years
EIA's 2025 file counts 5,513,622 residential solar installations enrolled in net metering in the 50 states and DC. Adoption is concentrated: California holds 40.7% of the total, and Hawaii, California, Nevada and Arizona all exceed 100 per 1,000 residential customers.
Residential PV installations enrolled in utility net metering programs, by state
Source: U.S. EIA, Form EIA-861 Net Metering files 2020 to 2025 (2025 final data released 2026-10-07); ECW analysis
Per customer, Hawaii (232.3 per 1,000 residential customers), California (156.0), Nevada (106.7) and Arizona (104.2) lead. All four now put new customers on net billing or a successor tariff; the counts mostly reflect systems enrolled under earlier rules. The US rate was 38.1 per 1,000.
Residential PV installations per 1,000 residential customers
Source: U.S. EIA, Form EIA-861 Net Metering files 2020 to 2025 (2025 final data released 2026-10-07); ECW analysis
At the bottom, EIA counts 97 net-metered residential installations in Tennessee, 87 in Alabama and 89 in North Dakota. Large absolute counts do not always mean high rates: Texas has 138,081 installations but 10.8 per 1,000 customers, and Florida has 319,411 at 29.9 per 1,000.
Cumulative installations enrolled at year end, 50 states and DC
Source: U.S. EIA, Form EIA-861 Net Metering files 2020 to 2025 (2025 final data released 2026-10-07); ECW analysis
| Year | Net-metered residential PV installations (50 states + DC) | Residential PV capacity (MW) | Net additions vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,661,029 | 16,432.6 | |
| 2021 | 3,157,429 | 19,929.2 | 496,400 |
| 2022 | 3,788,427 | 24,668.2 | 630,998 |
| 2023 | 4,549,601 | 30,570.9 | 761,174 |
| 2024 | 5,077,543 | 34,226.3 | 527,942 |
| 2025 | 5,513,622 | 37,829.7 | 436,079 |
Year-end cumulative counts. Net additions are differences between year-end counts and include removals and reporting changes.
Source: [1][2] U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Energy Information Administration
Growth slowed after 2023. Yearly net additions, measured as the change in year-end counts, rose from 496,400 in 2021 to 761,174 in 2023, then fell to 527,942 in 2024 and 436,079 in 2025. Capacity grew faster than installations (130.2% against 107.2% over 2020 to 2025), and the average net-metered residential system was 6.86 kW in 2025.
Show all 51 rows
| Rank | State | Rule type | Net-metered residential PV installations 2025 | Residential PV capacity 2025 (MW) | Per 1,000 residential customers | Installations 2020 | Change 2020 to 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | Net billing or successor tariff | 104,259 | 582.7 | 232.3 | 83,302 | 25.2 |
| 2 | California | Net billing or successor tariff | 2,241,381 | 13,786.9 | 156.0 | 1,217,078 | 84.2 |
| 3 | Nevada | Net billing or successor tariff | 142,497 | 1,108.6 | 106.7 | 63,962 | 122.8 |
| 4 | Arizona | Net billing or successor tariff | 333,870 | 2,442.2 | 104.2 | 180,847 | 84.6 |
| 5 | Connecticut | Net billing or successor tariff | 119,508 | 909.3 | 75.6 | 51,987 | 129.9 |
| 6 | Colorado | Full retail net metering | 191,943 | 1,002.9 | 73.8 | 63,359 | 202.9 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | Full retail net metering | 209,993 | 1,466.1 | 71.9 | 105,587 | 98.9 |
| 8 | New Mexico | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 64,532 | 341.9 | 68.2 | 31,156 | 107.1 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | Full retail net metering | 21,479 | 141.1 | 66.1 | 8,178 | 162.6 |
| 10 | Utah | Net billing or successor tariff | 86,164 | 522.8 | 66.0 | 47,705 | 80.6 |
| 11 | New Jersey | Full retail net metering | 219,395 | 1,526.3 | 58.0 | 127,408 | 72.2 |
| 12 | Maryland | Full retail net metering | 118,789 | 997.7 | 48.1 | 76,414 | 55.5 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 19,998 | 125.9 | 43.0 | 5,023 | 298.1 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | Net billing or successor tariff | 25,210 | 211.1 | 38.3 | 9,761 | 158.3 |
| 15 | New York | Full retail net metering | 251,828 | 1,770.8 | 33.7 | 136,532 | 84.4 |
| 16 | Oregon | Full retail net metering | 61,540 | 404.5 | 32.6 | 20,984 | 193.3 |
| 17 | Delaware | Full retail net metering | 15,186 | 118.1 | 31.5 | 8,241 | 84.3 |
| 18 | Vermont | Full retail net metering | 9,399 | 114.3 | 29.9 | 8,350 | 12.6 |
| 19 | Florida | Full retail net metering | 319,411 | 2,877.1 | 29.9 | 87,068 | 266.9 |
| 20 | Idaho | Net billing or successor tariff | 23,850 | 160.9 | 26.9 | 8,140 | 193.0 |
| 21 | Maine | Full retail net metering | 18,997 | 158.2 | 25.4 | 5,829 | 225.9 |
| 22 | Montana | Full retail net metering | 12,536 | 95.3 | 22.2 | 2,813 | 345.6 |
| 23 | Illinois | Net billing or successor tariff | 119,442 | 982.4 | 22.0 | 23,126 | 416.5 |
| 24 | Virginia | Full retail net metering | 74,360 | 553.2 | 20.2 | 16,807 | 342.4 |
| 25 | Washington | Full retail net metering | 66,257 | 487.0 | 19.4 | 26,322 | 151.7 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | Full retail net metering | 93,934 | 760.0 | 16.9 | 34,078 | 175.6 |
| 27 | Louisiana | Net billing or successor tariff | 35,971 | 221.0 | 16.7 | 27,661 | 30.0 |
| 28 | South Carolina | Net billing or successor tariff | 41,365 | 312.4 | 15.7 | 25,198 | 64.2 |
| 29 | Iowa | Full retail net metering | 19,220 | 165.3 | 13.2 | 5,361 | 258.5 |
| 30 | Arkansas | Net billing or successor tariff | 19,458 | 178.9 | 13.1 | 3,566 | 445.7 |
| 31 | North Carolina | Net billing or successor tariff | 63,841 | 468.7 | 12.4 | 20,559 | 210.5 |
| 32 | Wyoming | Full retail net metering | 3,547 | 23.6 | 12.1 | 1,143 | 210.3 |
| 33 | Missouri | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 33,251 | 331.7 | 11.3 | 13,350 | 149.1 |
| 34 | Texas | No statewide rule | 138,081 | 1,006.6 | 10.8 | 63,227 | 118.4 |
| 35 | Minnesota | Full retail net metering | 26,695 | 228.0 | 10.2 | 7,108 | 275.6 |
| 36 | Alaska | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 3,005 | 16.2 | 10.0 | 1,427 | 110.6 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 18,196 | 135.1 | 9.6 | 2,306 | 689.1 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | No statewide rule | 21,545 | 157.7 | 7.5 | 6,466 | 233.2 |
| 39 | Kansas | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 9,805 | 81.1 | 7.4 | 2,008 | 388.3 |
| 40 | Ohio | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 33,206 | 254.8 | 6.4 | 10,192 | 225.8 |
| 41 | Michigan | Net billing or successor tariff | 26,849 | 183.1 | 5.9 | 10,598 | 153.3 |
| 42 | West Virginia | Net billing or successor tariff | 4,841 | 44.0 | 5.6 | 1,020 | 374.6 |
| 43 | Kentucky | Net billing or successor tariff | 10,993 | 85.9 | 5.3 | 2,142 | 413.2 |
| 44 | Georgia | Net billing or successor tariff | 20,377 | 142.4 | 4.2 | 1,402 | 1353.4 |
| 45 | Indiana | Net billing or successor tariff | 11,490 | 102.0 | 3.7 | 4,871 | 135.9 |
| 46 | Nebraska | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 3,256 | 27.1 | 3.6 | 598 | 444.5 |
| 47 | Mississippi | Net billing or successor tariff | 2,029 | 10.7 | 1.5 | 594 | 241.6 |
| 48 | South Dakota | No statewide rule | 570 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 75 | 660.0 |
| 49 | North Dakota | Monthly netting, excess at avoided cost | 89 | 1.2 | 0.22 | 43 | 107.0 |
| 50 | Alabama | No statewide rule | 87 | 0.9 | 0.04 | 33 | 163.6 |
| 51 | Tennessee | No statewide rule | 97 | 0.7 | 0.03 | 24 | 304.2 |
EIA-861 Net Metering file, photovoltaic, residential sector, summed across utilities including EIA state adjustments. Third-party-owned system rows are not added. Rule type is the rule for new customers today, not the rule each existing customer is on.
Source: [1][2][3] U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Energy Information Administration
Six states moved new customers off retail net metering credits between 2023 and 2025
California, North Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas, Illinois and West Virginia changed the export credit for new residential customers between 2023 and 2025. Several other states reviewed their programs and kept retail crediting, and two passed laws scheduling successors.
| Date | State | Change | Effect on new residential customers | Source ids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-15 | California | Net Billing Tariff replaced NEM 2.0 for new interconnection applications (CPUC D.22-12-056) | Retail to net billing | s27 |
| 2023-10-01 | North Carolina | Duke Rider RSC (time-of-use, minimum bill, monthly net exports at avoided cost) replaced Rider NM for new residential customers | Retail to successor tariff | s66 |
| 2024-01-01 | Delaware | Monthly excess kWh credit valued at volumetric supply plus distribution charges for all net metering customers | Stays full retail | s31 |
| 2024-01-01 | Idaho | Idaho Power real-time net billing with an avoided-cost export credit rate (IPUC Order 36048 of 2023-12-29) | Retail to net billing | s38 |
| 2024-04-01 | Hawaii | Smart DER Tariff launched as the only underlying DER tariff for new customers (D&O 40418) | Successor replaced interim tariffs | s36 |
| 2024-07-01 | Kansas | L. 2024, ch. 60 set a rising aggregate cap: 2% of peak from 2024-07-01, 3% from 2025-07-01, 4% from 2026-07-01, 5% from 2027-07-01 | Stays avoided-cost excess | s43 |
| 2024-10-01 | Arkansas | Act 278 of 2023: systems installed after 2024-09-30 take instantaneous net billing at avoided cost | Retail to net billing | s26 |
| 2024-11-18 | New Hampshire | NHPUC Order 27,074 kept NEM 2.0 compensation and the 2040-12-31 legacy date | No change in compensation | s62 |
| 2025-01-01 | Illinois | New customers credited for monthly excess at supply charges only (220 ILCS 5/16-107.5(n)) | Retail to supply-only credit | s40 |
| 2025-01-01 | West Virginia | Mon Power and Potomac Edison residential applicants credited 9.34 cents/kWh for exports (settlement approved March 2024) | Retail to fixed export credit | s86 |
| 2025 | West Virginia | PSC approved Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power net billing with instantaneous netting at avoided cost | Retail to net billing | s6 |
| 2025 | Maine | LD 1777 cut payments to large community solar and kept the rooftop program unchanged | No change for rooftop | s48 |
| 2025-10-01 | Nevada | Sierra Pacific NMR-2025 tariff with 15-minute netting for new customers (Docket 25-03006) | Shorter netting interval | s61;s6 |
| 2025-10-01 | Idaho | Updated export credit rate approved; annual updates suspended until 2028 (Order 36785) | Stays net billing | s39 |
| 2025 | Washington | PacifiCorp net billing successor approved, hourly netting, 5.167 cents/kWh export credit, effective February 2027 | Retail to net billing (from 2027) | s6 |
| 2026-04-30 | Virginia | SCC final order on Dominion NEM 2.0 kept energy-based netting over the 12-month period (clarified 2026-05-20) | Stays full retail | s82;s5 |
| 2026-05 | Maryland | H.B. 1532 requires a lower-rate successor by the earlier of 2027-07-01 or the 3,000 MW cap | Successor scheduled | s5 |
| 2026 | Connecticut | Legislature ordered residential and non-residential net metering successors, to be finalized by April 2028 | Successor scheduled | s5 |
| 2024 | New Jersey | BPU opened a net metering review (Docket QO24090723) after net metering passed 5.8% of annual kWh sold in Energy Year 2024 | Review open | s63 |
Dates are effective dates for new customers where the source gives one; otherwise the year of the order or law.
Source: [4][5][6][7][15][14][26][28][54][74] NC Clean Energy Technology Center; NC Clean Energy Technology Center; NC Clean Energy Technology Center; NC Clean Energy Technology Center; California Public Utilities Commission; University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; Idaho Public Utilities Commission; Illinois General Assembly; North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff; WV MetroNews (The Dominion Post)
The changes took different forms. California (2023-04-15), Idaho (2024-01-01) and Arkansas (systems installed after 2024-09-30) moved to net billing with exports valued at avoided cost or a value-to-grid rate. North Carolina's Duke Energy riders from 2023-10-01 credit net exports at avoided cost each month and require time-of-use rates and a minimum bill. Illinois kept monthly netting from 2025-01-01 but credits the monthly excess only at supply charges. West Virginia's FirstEnergy utilities set a fixed 9.34 cents/kWh export credit for residential applicants from 2025-01-01.
Other decisions preserved retail crediting. Virginia's SCC kept 12-month netting for Dominion in 2026, New Hampshire kept NEM 2.0 compensation in Order 27,074 (2024-11-18), and Maine's LD 1777 left the rooftop program unchanged. Delaware changed how excess credits are valued from 2024-01-01 but still credits supply and distribution charges.
Net-metered residential PV installations added per year (change in EIA year-end counts)
Source: U.S. EIA, Form EIA-861 Net Metering files 2020 to 2025 (2025 final data released 2026-10-07); ECW analysis; rule dates from commission orders and statutes (see Table 1)
| State | Successor rule effective | Before window | Avg yearly net additions before | After window | Avg yearly net additions after | Change (%) | Yearly net additions 2021 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2023-04-15 | 2021-2022 | 215,656 | 2024-2025 | 157,461 | -27.0 | 2021: 184,009 / 2022: 247,304 / 2023: 278,068 / 2024: 164,524 / 2025: 150,398 |
| Idaho | 2024-01-01 | 2022-2023 | 4,696 | 2024-2025 | 1,791 | -61.9 | 2021: 2,736 / 2022: 5,073 / 2023: 4,319 / 2024: 2,631 / 2025: 951 |
| North Carolina | 2023-10-01 | 2021-2022 | 9,898 | 2024-2025 | 6,434 | -35.0 | 2021: 8,206 / 2022: 11,590 / 2023: 10,617 / 2024: 6,421 / 2025: 6,448 |
| Illinois | 2025-01-01 | 2023-2024 | 28,642 | 2025 | 16,297 | -43.1 | 2021: 9,528 / 2022: 13,206 / 2023: 26,884 / 2024: 30,401 / 2025: 16,297 |
| Arkansas | 2024-10-01 | 2022-2023 | 4,917 | 2025 | 312 | -93.7 | 2021: 2,996 / 2022: 5,173 / 2023: 4,661 / 2024: 2,750 / 2025: 312 |
Descriptive comparison only. Federal tax credits, interest rates and grandfathering windows also changed in these years, so the change cannot be attributed to the rule alone.
Source: [1][2][14][15][26][28][54] U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Energy Information Administration; University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; California Public Utilities Commission; Idaho Public Utilities Commission; Illinois General Assembly; North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff
In every state with at least one full year of data after the change, yearly net additions were lower afterward: California -27.0%, Idaho -61.9%, North Carolina -35.0%, Illinois -43.1% and Arkansas -93.7%. Most of these states also saw a rush before the deadline: California added 278,068 in 2023 and Illinois 30,401 in 2024.
Change in year-end net-metered residential PV installations
Source: U.S. EIA, Form EIA-861 Net Metering files 2020 to 2025 (2025 final data released 2026-10-07); ECW analysis
What the rule means for a homeowner's bill, using commission and utility figures
Under full retail net metering, an exported kilowatt-hour offsets a purchased one. Under successor tariffs the export credit is a separate number, and commission documents show it ranging from a few cents to more than 30 cents per kWh depending on time and place.
- Arizona (TEP): the RCP export rate is $0.0462/kWh from 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30, locked for 10 years for new interconnections, and may not fall more than 10% a year.
- Hawaii (Oahu, Smart DER Export Rider): $0.135/kWh for daytime exports (9am to 5pm), $0.189 overnight and $0.329 in the 5pm to 9pm peak; Maui's daytime rate is $0.066.
- Kentucky: the PSC set export rates of 6.924 cents/kWh for LG&E and 7.366 cents/kWh for KU in 2021, against the utilities' proposed 2.319 cents/kWh.
- West Virginia (Mon Power, Potomac Edison): 9.34 cents/kWh for residential applicants from 2025-01-01, between the utilities' proposed 6.6 cents and the prior 1:1 credit, estimated at 11.4 to 13 cents.
- South Carolina Solar Choice (2022 values): excess credits of $0.0270/kWh (Duke Energy Carolinas), $0.0230 (Duke Energy Progress) and $0.03363 (Dominion), with minimum monthly bills of $30.00 (Duke) and $13.50 (Dominion).
- Vermont: the base credit for monthly excess is the statewide blended residential rate, $0.2071/kWh after the 2026 update, with a REC adjustor of -$0.04/kWh if the customer keeps the RECs.
- New York: on-site systems installed after 2022-01-01 keep net metering but pay a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of $0.69 to $1.09 per kW DC.
- Washington (PacifiCorp, from February 2027): hourly netting with exports credited at 5.167 cents/kWh, per NCCETC's summary of the approval.
When the export rate is below the retail rate, the share of solar output used on site matters more under net billing than under full retail net metering. For retail electricity prices by state, see our average electric bill by state report; for installed system prices, see average cost of solar panels.
How we ranked the states
Count of states by rule type
FormulaCount of Table 1 rows in each category
Inputs: fact sheet rows 59 to 109 (one per state); Table 1 (fact sheet rows)
Result: 18 full retail; 19 net billing or successor; 9 avoided-cost excess; 5 no statewide rule
Full retail crediting for new customers is now a minority position: fewer than two in five jurisdictions.
Limitations: Classification uses the statewide rule for investor-owned utilities; boundary cases (Delaware, Vermont, Illinois) are explained in Table 1.
Net-metered residential installations per 1,000 residential customers
FormulaEIA 2025 residential PV net metering installations / EIA 2025 residential customers x 1,000
Inputs: fact sheet rows 11 and 13; Table 2 (fact sheet rows)
Result: US 38.1; Hawaii 232.3; California 156.0
Per-customer rates separate adoption from population size: Texas ranks 9th by count but 34th per customer.
Limitations: Customer accounts, not households; some installations serve more than one account.
Share of installations by current rule type
FormulaSum of 2025 installations in each category / US total
Inputs: Table 2; Table 3 (fact sheet rows)
Result: 62.3% in net billing or successor states; 31.5% in full retail states
Most net-metered homes are in states that no longer offer retail crediting to new customers, largely because of California.
Limitations: Existing customers in those states are mostly grandfathered on earlier rules.
States that changed rules since 2023
FormulaCount of Table 4 rows that moved new customers from retail crediting to below-retail credits, effective 2023 to 2025
Inputs: Table 4 (fact sheet rows)
Result: 6 states: California, North Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas, Illinois, West Virginia
The pace of change is about two states a year, with Washington (PacifiCorp, 2027) and Maryland (by 2027) scheduled next.
Limitations: Utility-level changes in states without a statewide rule (for example Colorado Springs Utilities) are not counted.
Adoption growth before vs after a successor tariff
FormulaMean yearly net additions in the after window / mean in the before window - 1
Inputs: Table 6; EIA files 2020 to 2025 (fact sheet rows)
Result: California -27.0%; Idaho -61.9%; North Carolina -35.0%; Illinois -43.1%; Arkansas -93.7%; full-retail group -0.9%
Net additions fell after every successor rule in the data, while full-retail states were nearly flat over the same windows.
Limitations: No causal claim: tax credit, interest rate and pre-deadline rush effects overlap; Illinois and Arkansas have one year after the change.
State by state
- As of 2026-10-27, 18 of 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC) offer full retail net metering to new residential solar customers.[19][20][21][37][51][59]
- As of 2026-10-27, 19 states put new residential solar customers on net billing or a successor tariff that credits exports below retail.[15][26][28][54]
- As of 2026-10-27, 9 states net usage monthly at retail but credit monthly excess at avoided cost, a wholesale price or an energy-only rate.[9][45][47][56][60]
- As of 2026-10-27, 5 states (Alabama, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin) have no statewide net metering rule.[8][63][64][65][75]
- EIA counted 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations in the 50 states and DC at the end of 2025.[1]
- US net-metered residential installations rose 107.2% from 2020 to 2025.[1][2]
- US net-metered residential solar capacity was 37,829.7 MW in 2025, an average of 6.86 kW per installation.[1]
- In 2025 the US had 38.1 net-metered residential solar installations per 1,000 residential customers.[1]
- Hawaii led in 2025 with 232.3 net-metered residential installations per 1,000 residential customers, 6.1 times the US rate.[1]
- California held 40.7% of all US net-metered residential installations in 2025 (2,241,381).[1]
- Yearly US net additions peaked at 761,174 in 2023 and fell to 436,079 in 2025.[1][2]
- California's average yearly net additions fell 27.0%, from 215,656 in 2021-2022 to 157,461 in 2024-2025, after its net billing tariff began on 2023-04-15.[1][15]
- In the 18 full-retail jurisdictions, average yearly net additions changed by -0.9% over the same windows, from 184,326 to 182,756.[1][2]
- Since 2023, six states moved new residential customers from retail crediting to below-retail export credits, and Maryland and Connecticut passed laws requiring successors.[5][14][15][26][28][54][74]
In short
- 18 jurisdictions (17 states plus DC) still credit new residential rooftop solar at full retail value; 19 states use net billing or a successor tariff; 9 net monthly at retail but buy the excess at avoided cost or a similar rate; 5 have no statewide rule.
- EIA counted 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations in the 50 states and DC at the end of 2025, up 107.2% from 2,661,029 in 2020.
- Net-metered residential capacity reached 37,829.7 MW in 2025, up 130.2% from 16,432.6 MW in 2020.
- California alone held 2,241,381 net-metered residential installations in 2025, 40.7% of the US total; Hawaii had the highest rate at 232.3 per 1,000 residential customers.
- Six states moved new customers from retail crediting to below-retail export credits between 2023 and 2025: California, North Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas, Illinois and West Virginia.
- Yearly net additions fell in all five successor states with enough data, from -27.0% in California to -93.7% in Arkansas; additions in full-retail states were nearly flat (-0.9%) over the same windows.
- Maryland and Connecticut have laws requiring successor programs (Maryland by 2027-07-01 or its 3,000 MW cap, Connecticut by April 2028), and New Jersey has an open review.
What people search for
What is net metering?
Net metering is a billing arrangement in which power a home's solar system sends to the grid offsets power the home buys, usually as kilowatt-hour credits carried forward month to month. In 2025, EIA counted 5,513,622 residential solar installations enrolled in net metering in the 50 states and DC.
Which states have net metering?
As of 2026-10-27, 18 jurisdictions offer full retail net metering to new residential customers: Colorado, Delaware, DC, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Another 9 net monthly but buy the excess at avoided cost or a similar energy-only rate.
What is net billing?
Net billing charges the retail rate for all grid power a customer uses and credits exported power at a separate export rate, usually below retail. California has used it for applications since 2023-04-15; Arizona's TEP pays $0.0462/kWh for exports from 2026-10-01.
Is net metering going away?
For new customers in some states, yes. Six states moved new customers to below-retail export credits between 2023 and 2025, Maryland must adopt a lower-rate successor by 2027-07-01 or its 3,000 MW cap, and Connecticut's successors are due by April 2028. Washington's statute requires retail net metering only until 2029-06-30 or a 4% threshold.
Common questions
Which states still have full retail net metering in 2026?
As of 2026-10-27, 18 jurisdictions: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. New York adds a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution of $0.69 to $1.09 per kW DC.
How many homes have net metering in the US?
EIA counted 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations in the 50 states and DC at the end of 2025, up from 2,661,029 in 2020. That is 38.1 per 1,000 residential customers.
Which state has the most net-metered solar homes?
California, with 2,241,381 net-metered residential solar installations in 2025, or 40.7% of the US total. Arizona (333,870) and Florida (319,411) follow.
Which state has the highest rate of net metering?
Hawaii, with 232.3 net-metered residential solar installations per 1,000 residential customers in 2025, followed by California (156.0), Nevada (106.7) and Arizona (104.2).
What is the difference between net metering and net billing?
Under net metering, exported kilowatt-hours offset purchased kilowatt-hours, usually over a month or longer. Under net billing, purchases are billed at retail and exports earn a separate credit, such as Oahu's Smart DER daytime export rate of $0.135/kWh or Kentucky's 2021 LG&E export rate of 6.924 cents/kWh.
Did California end net metering?
For new customers, yes. Under CPUC Decision 22-12-056, adopted 2022-12-15, interconnection applications submitted on or after 2023-04-15 take the Net Billing Tariff, which credits exports at a value-to-grid rate that is usually below retail. California still had 2,241,381 net-metered residential installations in EIA's 2025 data.
Does Texas have net metering?
Texas has no statewide mandate. Texas Utilities Code 39.916 lets utilities and retail electric providers contract to credit surplus solar, and in competitive areas the surplus is sold to the customer's retail provider at an agreed value. EIA still counted 138,081 net-metered residential installations in Texas in 2025.
What happens to unused net metering credits at the end of the year?
It depends on the state. New Jersey pays leftover credits at the avoided cost of wholesale power, Florida pays at the as-available energy rate, Wyoming sells them to the utility at avoided cost, Montana grants them to the utility without payment and Oregon lets them go to low-income assistance programs, the customer or other uses.
Is there a size limit for net metering?
Yes, in most states. Examples from statutes and rules: 25 kW for Virginia residential customers, 20 kW AC in South Carolina, 100 kW in Missouri, 300 kW in Oklahoma and 2 MW in Florida. Some states set limits as a share of usage, such as 110% in Iowa and Michigan.
Can a plug-in solar panel use net metering?
Not in the states that legalized them in Q3 2026. NCCETC reports that California, New Hampshire and New Jersey enabled plug-in devices of up to 1.2 kW that skip interconnection rules but cannot enroll in net metering.
Get the data
Every table in this report is available as a CSV under CC BY 4.0. The fact sheet lists each value with its source URL and access date.
- derived_metrics.csv (CSV)
- fact_sheet.csv (CSV)
- t1_state_rules.csv (CSV)
- t2_adoption_by_state.csv (CSV)
- t3_rule_type_summary.csv (CSV)
- t4_changes_since_2023.csv (CSV)
- t5_us_series.csv (CSV)
- t6_before_after_successor.csv (CSV)
Cite this report
The figures to cite first
- 18 of 51 jurisdictions offer full retail net metering to new residential customers (2026-10-27).[19][37][51]
- 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations in the US in 2025, up 107.2% from 2020 (EIA-861).[1][2]
- Six states moved new customers off retail net metering credits between 2023 and 2025.[15][54][26][14][28][74]
Quotable figures
- As of 2026-10-27, 18 of 51 jurisdictions still offer full retail net metering to new residential solar customers.[19][37][51]
- EIA counted 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations in the 50 states and DC at the end of 2025.[1]
- Net-metered residential solar installations in the US rose 107.2% from 2020 to 2025.[1][2]
- Hawaii had 232.3 net-metered residential solar installations per 1,000 residential customers in 2025, the highest rate in the US.[1]
- 62.3% of US net-metered residential installations in 2025 were in states that now put new customers on net billing or a successor tariff.[1][15]
- Six states moved new residential customers from retail crediting to below-retail export credits between 2023 and 2025.[15][54][26][14][28][74]
Summary for editors
Full retail net metering is now available to new residential solar customers in 18 of 51 jurisdictions, according to an Electrical Contractors and Wiring Data Desk review of state statutes, rules and commission orders checked on 2026-10-27. 19 states put new customers on net billing or a successor tariff, 9 buy monthly excess at avoided cost, and 5 have no statewide rule. Six states moved new customers to below-retail export credits between 2023 and 2025: California, North Carolina, Idaho, Arkansas, Illinois and West Virginia. Federal EIA-861 data released on 2026-10-07 count 5,513,622 net-metered residential solar installations at the end of 2025, up 107.2% from 2020, with Hawaii highest at 232.3 per 1,000 residential customers. Yearly net additions fell after each successor rule, by 27.0% in California, while full-retail states were nearly flat; the report makes no causal claim because tax credits and interest rates changed in the same years.
Headlines the data supports
- Full retail net metering survives in 18 of 51 jurisdictions
- 5.5 million US solar homes are net metered, EIA data show
- Six states cut solar export credits for new customers since 2023
- Hawaii leads the US with 232.3 net-metered solar homes per 1,000 customers
- California solar additions fell 27.0% after net billing began
Citation
Electrical Contractors and Wiring. (2026). Net metering by state in 2026: the rule for new rooftop solar in every state, with EIA customer counts. Retrieved from https://electricalcontractorsandwiring.com/data/net-metering-by-state/
Reuse
Data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0. Attribution: “Source: Electrical Contractors and Wiring, Net metering by state in 2026: the rule for new rooftop solar in every state, with EIA customer counts” with a link to this page.
How we built this report
Scope: the rule a new residential rooftop solar customer of an investor-owned utility gets today in each of the 50 states and DC. Each rule was read from the statute, administrative rule or commission order (Tier 1) where it could be opened; where it could not, a utility tariff, a utility page or the NC Clean Energy Technology Center's public 50 States of Solar executive summaries (Tier 2) were used, and one state (Georgia) relies on trade press (Tier 3). Rule status was checked on 2026-10-27.
Classification: full retail net metering means monthly net excess is carried forward at retail value (a year-end leftover may be paid at avoided cost). Monthly netting with excess at avoided cost means the month's surplus is bought at avoided cost, a wholesale price or an energy-only rate. Net billing or successor tariff covers named replacement tariffs that credit exports below retail. No statewide rule means no statute or commission rule requires net metering. Delaware (supply plus distribution value) and Vermont (blended residential rate with adjustors) were kept in the full retail group; Illinois (supply-only credit under a successor statute) was placed with successor tariffs.
EIA data: residential photovoltaic capacity and installations were summed from the utility-level sheet of each Net_Metering file (2020 to 2025), including EIA's State Adjustment rows; for 2023 and 2025 these sums equal EIA's own state-level sheet. Third-party-owner (TPO) rows were not added because EIA's state totals do not add them. Residential customer counts come from the 2025 Average_Bill file. 2025 data are EIA's final release of 2026-10-07.
Derived metrics: per-1,000 rates divide installations by residential customers; net additions are differences between year-end cumulative counts and therefore include removals, reclassifications and reporting changes. Before and after windows use two years where available (one year after the change for Illinois and Arkansas). All calculations are in scripts/analyze.py and derived_metrics.csv.
Conflicts and exclusions: the DSIRE program database API refused access without a license and NCSL's net metering page was last updated in 2017, so neither was used. The Texas PUC site blocked automated access; the Texas statute was used instead. Figures that could not be confirmed in an opened source (for example Nevada's current statutory tier and Georgia Power's current buyback rate) were left out and are listed in excluded.md.
Limitations: EIA's net metering definition includes programs that credit exports below retail, so counts in net billing states mix grandfathered and new customers. Cooperative and municipal utility rules are not classified. Size limits are shown only where an opened source states them. This report does not give legal, tax or financial advice. Last updated 2026-10-27.
This report presents published data with its limitations. It is not legal, financial or investment advice.
Sources by tier
Tier 1: primary and official sources (63)
- [1] U.S. Energy Information Administration. Form EIA-861 detailed data, 2025 final (Net_Metering_2025.xlsx, Average_Bill_2025.xlsx). 2025 (final data released 2026-10-07). Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [2] U.S. Energy Information Administration. Form EIA-861 detailed data archive, 2020 to 2024 (Net_Metering files) and release schedule page. 2020 to 2024. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [3] U.S. Energy Information Administration. Form EIA-861 Instructions, Schedule 7 Part A: Net Metering Programs (file in the 2025 zip). Form instructions used for 2025 data. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [9] Regulatory Commission of Alaska. 3 AAC 50.910 and 3 AAC 50.930, Alaska net metering regulations (text via Cornell LII). Current regulation. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [10] Alaska Energy Authority. Net Metering Incentive Payment Pilot Program Overview (2025-07-14). 2025 to 2028. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [13] Arkansas Public Service Commission. Report on Review of 2023 Acts pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. 25-15-216 (Internet Archive copy). 2023-08-01. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [14] University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Net Metering Policies in Arkansas for Solar Energy. Act 278 of 2023. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [15] California Public Utilities Commission. Net Billing Tariff (NEM revisit proceeding). D.22-12-056. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [16] California Public Utilities Commission. Net Energy Metering and Net Billing. Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [18] Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program. Program years 2022 to 2027. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [19] Delaware General Assembly. Delaware Code Title 26, Chapter 10, Section 1014. Current code. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [20] DC Public Service Commission. 15 DCMR Chapter 9, Net Energy Metering (compiled, updated 2025-04-07). Current rule. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [21] Florida Public Service Commission. Rule 25-6.065, F.A.C., Interconnection and Net Metering of Customer-Owned Renewable Generation (text via Cornell LII; history via flrules.org). Effective 2008-04-07. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [23] Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Distributed Energy Resources (Docket 2014-0192) Phase 1 Decision and Order summary. 2015-10-12. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [24] Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. DER Programs. Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [25] Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. DPS Phase 3 Decision and Order Summary (D&O 40418). Rates from 2024-04-01. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [26] Idaho Public Utilities Commission. News release: Commission issues order on Idaho Power on-site and self-generation tariffs, Order 36048 (Internet Archive copy). 2023-12-29. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [27] Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Final Order No. 36785, Case IPC-E-25-15 (Internet Archive copy). 2025-09-30. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [28] Illinois General Assembly. 220 ILCS 5/16-107.5, Net electricity metering (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [29] Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Order in Cause No. 45506 (Indiana Michigan Power Rider EDG). 2022-01-26. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [30] Iowa Legislature. Iowa Code 476.49 (2026). Iowa Code 2026. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [31] Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. K.S.A. 66-1265 and 66-1266. Current statute (L. 2024, ch. 60). Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [32] Kentucky General Assembly. KRS 278.466, Availability of net metering. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [33] Kentucky Public Service Commission. PSC Issues LG&E/KU Net Metering Order (news release). 2021-09-24. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [34] Louisiana Public Service Commission. Electric Net Metering. General Order 2019-09-19. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [35] Maine Legislature. 35-A M.R.S. 3209-A, Net energy billing. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [36] Maine Office of the Public Advocate. Maine Public Advocate Applauds Final Passage of LD 1777. 2025. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [37] Maryland General Assembly. Public Utilities Article 7-306. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [38] Massachusetts Legislature. M.G.L. c. 164, s. 139 (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [39] Michigan Legislature. MCL 460.1177 (Internet Archive copy). Amended 2023 PA 235. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [40] Michigan Legislature. MCL 460.1173 (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [41] Michigan Public Service Commission. Order in Case U-18383 (distributed generation tariff) (Internet Archive copy). 2018-04-18. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [42] Minnesota Revisor of Statutes. Minn. Stat. 216B.164. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [43] Mississippi Public Service Commission. Mississippi PSC approves modified distributed generation and interconnection rules (news release). 2022-07-12. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [45] Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 386.890, Net Metering and Easy Connection Act. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [46] Montana Legislature. MCA 69-8-603, Net energy measurement calculation. MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [47] Nebraska Legislature. Neb. Rev. Stat. 70-2003 (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [48] Nevada Legislature. NRS Chapter 704 (NRS 704.7732) (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [50] New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. Order No. 27,074, Docket DE 22-060 (Internet Archive copy). 2024-11-18. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [51] New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Notice: In the Matter of Net Metering for Class I Renewable Energy Systems, Docket QO24090723. Energy Year 2024. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [52] New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. 17.9.570 NMAC, Governing Cogeneration and Small Power Production. Effective 2022-05-24. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [53] New York Public Service Commission. Order Adopting Net Metering Successor Tariff Filings, Case 15-E-0751 (copy hosted by Vote Solar). 2021-08-12. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [54] North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff. Net Metering. Order of 2023-03-23. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [55] North Dakota Legislative Council. N.D. Admin. Code chapter 69-09-07. Current rule. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [56] Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Ohio Adm. Code 4901:1-10-28, Net metering (Internet Archive copy). Effective 2024-04-08. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [57] Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Net Metering. Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [58] Oregon Legislature. ORS Chapter 757 (ORS 757.300) (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [59] Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. 52 Pa. Code 75.13, General provisions (net metering). Current rule. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [60] Rhode Island General Assembly. R.I. Gen. Laws 39-26.4-2 and 39-26.4-3 (Internet Archive copies). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [61] South Carolina Legislature. S.C. Code Title 58, Chapter 40 (58-40-10, 58-40-20). Current statute (2025 Act 41). Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [62] South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Solar Choice Rates Overview 2022 (Internet Archive copy). Rates as of 2022-01-01. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [63] South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Compensation: Net Metering (wind energy). Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [65] Texas Legislature. Tex. Util. Code 39.916 (statute text via texas.public.law). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [66] Public Service Commission of Utah. Order Approving Annual Export Credit Rate Update Procedures, Docket 17-035-61 (Internet Archive copy). 2021-08-11. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [67] Vermont Public Utility Commission. Net-Metering. Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [68] Vermont Public Utility Commission. Order, Case 26-0291-INV, biennial update of the net-metering program. 2026-05-29. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [69] Virginia General Assembly. Va. Code 56-594, Net energy metering provisions. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [70] Virginia State Corporation Commission. Order on Clarification, Case PUR-2025-00079 (copy hosted by Piedmont Environmental Council). 2026-05-20. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [71] Washington State Legislature. RCW 80.60.020. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [72] Washington State Legislature. RCW 80.60.030. Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [73] West Virginia Legislature. W. Va. Code 24-2F-8 (Internet Archive copy). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [75] Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Staff memorandum, Investigation of Parallel Generation Purchase Rates, Docket 5-EI-157. 2024-03-20. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [76] Wyoming Legislature. Wyoming Statutes Title 37 (37-16-101 to 37-16-104). Current statute. Accessed 2026-10-27.
Tier 2: trade bodies, market research, company data (11)
- [4] NC Clean Energy Technology Center. The 50 States of Solar: Q3 2026 Quarterly Report, Executive Summary. July to September 2026. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [5] NC Clean Energy Technology Center. The 50 States of Solar: Q2 2026 Quarterly Report, Executive Summary. April to June 2026. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [6] NC Clean Energy Technology Center. The 50 States of Solar: Q4 2025 and 2025 Annual Review, Executive Summary. 2025. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [7] NC Clean Energy Technology Center. The 50 States of Solar: Q1 2026 Quarterly Report, Executive Summary. January to March 2026. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [8] Alabama Power (APSC-approved tariff). Rate Rider RGB: Supplementary, Back-Up, or Maintenance Power. Effective April 2022 billings. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [11] Tucson Electric Power. Resource Comparison Proxy Export Rate. Rate for 2026-10-01 to 2027-09-30. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [12] Arizona Public Service. Renewable Energy Riders (RCP Export Rider). Current rider page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [17] Colorado Springs Utilities. Net Metering Rollover Request (quotes 4 CCR 723-3, Rule 3664). Undated customer notice. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [44] Mississippi Power (MPSC-approved tariff). Renewable Energy Net Metering Rate Schedule RENM-2. 2023 tariff. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [49] NV Energy (Sierra Pacific Power). Consumer Session and Hearing Notice, Docket 25-03006 (Schedule NMR-2025). June 2025. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [64] Harriman Utility Board (TVA local power company). Dispersed Power Production. Current page. Accessed 2026-10-27.
Tier 3: journalism and expert commentary (2)
- [22] Solar Power World. Georgia PSC declines to expand monthly netting solar program (2022-12). December 2022. Accessed 2026-10-27.
- [74] WV MetroNews (The Dominion Post). PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases. 2024-03-27. Accessed 2026-10-27.