Short answer
Under the net metering scheme, what you feed back is offset against what you take from the grid, so the grid is effectively your battery. When that scheme disappears, you get a payment for feed-in that is lower than what you pay when you take the electricity back later. So your panels produce just as much as always; it simply pays more to use your electricity yourself at the moment it is there.
Who this article is for Everyone with solar panels. Not a political story, but what it means in practice.
What the net metering scheme did
What you fed back during the day was offset against what you took in the evening. That made the grid effectively your battery, and it did not matter when you used your electricity. A kilowatt hour fed back was worth just as much as a kilowatt hour taken.
What changes
Without the net metering scheme you get a feed-in payment for what you feed back, and it is lower than the price you pay when you take the same electricity back later. The difference between those two amounts is exactly what you miss out on for every kilowatt hour you do not use yourself.
On top of that, many suppliers already charge feed-in charges: a fixed amount per month or per kilowatt hour for taking your electricity. See feed-in charges.
What it does not mean
- your panels generate just as much as always
- your installation does not need to be changed
- feeding back remains possible; you just get less for it
- your inverter does not need to come out
Anyone who says your panels are becoming worthless is selling you something.
What you can do about it, in order of effort
1. Shift consumption to the daytime. Washing and the dishwasher during the day, the water heater on a timer, charging the car when the sun shines. Costs nothing and pays off straight away. See solar power in the car.
The first step costs nothing and for many households is already half the gain.
2. Look at your contract. A dynamic contract can be favourable if you can control your usage, but it is not an automatic gain. See dynamic contract and a battery.
3. A home battery. With it you use in the evening what you generated during the day. Whether it pays off depends on your consumption, your rate and the feed-in charges you pay. The home battery page has a calculator so you can try it out yourself.
4. Extend, or not. Adding more panels while you already feed back a lot earns considerably less under the new situation than before. That is a sum you want to do beforehand.
What I would do
Get out your annual statement and find two figures: what you consumed and what you fed back. With those two you can see in five minutes whether it is about a hundred euros a year for you or five hundred. That decides whether a battery is worth it or whether shifting is enough.
From my own work
A customer in Beek called in a panic that his panels would soon be worth nothing. That is not the case. His installation generates just the same. I got out his annual statement: he feeds back over 2.400 kWh and uses little during the day. For him, shifting consumption to the daytime is the first thing that helps, and only after that a battery.
When to call an electrician
- You want to know what the change means in concrete terms for your situation
- You are considering a home battery and want it worked out honestly
- You want to shift your consumption but do not know where to start
I work it out with your own annual statement. See also the packages and the calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are my solar panels now becoming worthless?
No. They generate just as much as always. Only the value of what you feed back becomes lower than the price of what you take.
Do I need to replace my inverter?
No, not because of this change. You replace an inverter when it is broken or when you extend.
Can I switch off feed-in?
Technically an inverter can be limited, but that means throwing away generation. Using it yourself or storing it always earns more.
Further reading
A dynamic contract and a home battery: is it worth it
With a dynamic contract the battery can charge when electricity is cheap. That works, provided you let it be controlled automatically.
Feed-in charges: why you pay for your own electricity
More and more suppliers charge for feeding your solar power back into the grid. Your bill shows what that costs you.
Solar panels and your consumer unit: what really needs to be done
What changes in the meter cupboard when panels go on your roof, when a PV distribution board is sensible and why your inverter cuts out on the very sunniest day.
Questions and comments
Ask your question below. Ask before 17:00 on a working day and you get an answer from Kevin himself the same day. No account needed, and your email address does not appear on the site.