Thinking about solar but your electric company doesn’t offer net metering? You’re not alone—and you still have options.
📅 Schedule a free consultation at EagleMountainSolar.com to see if solar makes sense for your home.
What Is Net Metering?
Net metering is a billing system that gives homeowners credit for the extra solar energy their system sends back to the grid. Think of it like a power “bank account”—you build up credit during sunny months and use it during times your system underproduces (like at night or during winter).
In states or utility areas with full retail net metering, you’re credited 1:1 for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) your panels send back. This allows for:
- Seasonal energy balancing
- Smaller electric bills (sometimes even $0)
- Faster return on investment
But not every utility offers this.
What If My Utility Doesn’t Offer Net Metering?
Some electric companies, especially in deregulated or rural areas, do not offer net metering or only provide limited buyback rates. In these cases, exported energy is bought at wholesale value (often just a few cents per kWh) or not credited at all.
But that doesn’t mean solar is off the table.
It just means the strategy—and the financial outlook—needs to shift.
How to Make Solar Work Without Net Metering
⚡ 1. Design for Self-Consumption
In non-net-metered areas, your goal is to use as much of your solar energy as possible while it’s being produced.
This is called self-consumption—and it helps you avoid sending power back to the grid where you won’t get full value.
Tips for maximizing self-consumption:
- Run large appliances (like laundry or dishwasher) during the day
- Use timers to schedule electric vehicle (EV) charging when the sun is up
- Upgrade to smart thermostats or load controllers to align with solar hours
🔋 2. Add Battery Storage
Batteries help store your excess solar energy for use after the sun sets, allowing you to:
- Keep using your own energy after dark
- Reduce or eliminate nighttime grid usage
- Maximize your solar investment
Even a partial-home backup battery can significantly improve solar value in areas without net metering.
At Eagle Mountain Solar, we can design systems that include battery-first charging, so your solar energy goes to your home and battery before hitting the grid.
📉 3. Undersize the System Strategically
Instead of designing for 100% annual usage offset (which leads to more export), many homeowners in non-net-metered areas choose to install a system that offsets 50–70% of their usage.
Why this works:
- You consume most of the energy directly
- Less risk of losing value on exported energy
- Lower system cost, which means better ROI
🏷️ 4. Choose the Right Electric Plan
In deregulated markets like Texas, you can choose from a variety of retail electricity providers. Some offer:
- Partial buyback plans (buy back solar up to your usage, but not beyond)
- Free nights or weekends plans (can be paired with batteries)
- Fixed-rate plans with no buyback but very low kWh prices
Even without true net metering, selecting the right plan makes a big difference.
We help every Eagle Mountain Solar customer evaluate and switch plans where allowed.
Will I Still Save Money?
Yes—but your savings structure will look different.
| With Net Metering | Without Net Metering |
|---|---|
| Full offset is ideal | Partial offset may be smarter |
| Credits roll over | Excess energy may be wasted or undervalued |
| Higher ROI | ROI still strong with smart usage/batteries |
| $0 bills possible | Modest bills likely, but long-term savings still add up |
Even in non-net-metered areas, solar can:
- Reduce your electricity bill
- Lock in predictable monthly payments (vs. rising rates)
- Add home value
- Protect you from outages when paired with a battery
Just be sure your system is designed intentionally—not just based on the roof size or a random percentage offset.
States & Utilities Without Net Metering
Here are a few examples of areas where solar must be designed carefully:
- Texas (most areas): No state-wide net metering. Buyback options vary by provider; many offer only wholesale rates or limit exports.
- Florida (FPL & Duke): Moving toward “net billing” with lower export credits.
- Arizona: Net metering replaced by export compensation rates well below retail.
- Idaho, Montana, Alabama: Minimal or no buyback offered by many utilities.
- California: NEM 3.0 slashed buyback rates with most major providers. Batteries are recommended.
If you’re in one of these areas, your solar installer must be well-versed in how to build systems for self-consumption or battery pairing.
Are Batteries Required Without Net Metering?
No—but they’re often a good idea.
Think of batteries as a way to “time-shift” your solar usage. Without them, your system will send excess energy to the grid when you’re not home—essentially giving it away if your utility offers no credit.
With a battery:
- That energy is stored for evening use
- You draw less from the grid at night
- Your bill can drop even further
The extra cost of a battery may extend your payback period—but many homeowners still find the added reliability and control worth it.
Don’t Let Lack of Net Metering Stop You
You can still go solar—even without net metering.
At Eagle Mountain Solar, we specialize in helping homeowners design smart systems that match their usage patterns, energy plan, and goals—whether that includes batteries, offset strategies, or financing.
📞 Ready to see what solar could look like for your home—even without net metering?
Schedule a free consultation today »