Net Metering Savings Calculator
See how much solar saves when exported power earns less than the retail price.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Under full net metering every kWh you export earns the retail price. Under net billing, exports earn a lower credit, so the share you use at home matters.
How it works
Savings = kWh used at home × retail price + kWh exported × export credit.
Example: 10,936 kWh a year with 30% used at home saves $1,056, against $1,989 under full net metering.
At a glance
Same settings as the calculator, changing only the used at home.
| Used at home | Savings | Full net metering | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | $923 | $1,989 | $1,066 |
| 30% | $1,056 | $1,989 | $933 |
| 40% | $1,189 | $1,989 | $800 |
| 50% | $1,323 | $1,989 | $667 |
| 60% | $1,456 | $1,989 | $533 |
| 80% | $1,723 | $1,989 | $267 |
Common questions
What is net metering?
A billing rule that credits each kWh your panels send to the grid at the retail price, so the meter in effect runs backward.
What is net billing?
A rule that credits exports at a lower rate, often near the utility's avoided cost. Using more of your solar at home, or adding a battery, raises savings.
Sources
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b
- NREL PVWatts v8 (20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses), state results compiled by TheGreenWatt: https://thegreenwatt.com/average-peak-sun-hours-by-state/