The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions
Residential solar photovoltaic (PV) output in most states is credited at the retail electricity rate, a policy commonly known as net metering. Twelve states have replaced net metering with alternative rate structures that reduce PV adopter bill savings. Proponents of these revisions argue that net m...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Energy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ade9c4 |
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| author | Eric O’Shaughnessy Jarett Zuboy Robert Margolis |
| author_facet | Eric O’Shaughnessy Jarett Zuboy Robert Margolis |
| author_sort | Eric O’Shaughnessy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Residential solar photovoltaic (PV) output in most states is credited at the retail electricity rate, a policy commonly known as net metering. Twelve states have replaced net metering with alternative rate structures that reduce PV adopter bill savings. Proponents of these revisions argue that net metering increases the electricity rates of customers without PV. Here, we analyze the degree to which the timelines of net metering revisions have correlated with potential electricity rate impacts. We estimate that potential rate impacts at the end of 2023 were less than 1% of typical customer bills in 37 of 44 states that have offered net metering. There are no statistically significant differences in average or median estimated rate impacts between states that have and have not revised net metering. Nine of the states that had revised net metering did so when estimated impacts were less than 1% of typical customer bills. Many states have retained net metering into higher PV deployment levels with increased risk of potential rate impacts. Only two states—California and Hawaii—retained net metering beyond estimated rate impacts of 5%, and both have revised net metering. These findings do not suggest a clear, consistent link between net metering revision timelines and potential rate impacts. The timing and nature of net metering revisions are ultimately policy decisions based on state-level priorities and considerations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48b4fc0e57a04b8995f818366bb1c16f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2753-3751 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Environmental Research: Energy |
| spelling | doaj-art-48b4fc0e57a04b8995f818366bb1c16f2025-08-20T03:33:11ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Energy2753-37512025-01-012303100110.1088/2753-3751/ade9c4The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisionsEric O’Shaughnessy0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6928-0184Jarett Zuboy1Robert Margolis2Clean Kilowatts, LLC , Boulder, CO, United States of AmericaNational Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden, CO, United States of AmericaNational Renewable Energy Laboratory , Golden, CO, United States of AmericaResidential solar photovoltaic (PV) output in most states is credited at the retail electricity rate, a policy commonly known as net metering. Twelve states have replaced net metering with alternative rate structures that reduce PV adopter bill savings. Proponents of these revisions argue that net metering increases the electricity rates of customers without PV. Here, we analyze the degree to which the timelines of net metering revisions have correlated with potential electricity rate impacts. We estimate that potential rate impacts at the end of 2023 were less than 1% of typical customer bills in 37 of 44 states that have offered net metering. There are no statistically significant differences in average or median estimated rate impacts between states that have and have not revised net metering. Nine of the states that had revised net metering did so when estimated impacts were less than 1% of typical customer bills. Many states have retained net metering into higher PV deployment levels with increased risk of potential rate impacts. Only two states—California and Hawaii—retained net metering beyond estimated rate impacts of 5%, and both have revised net metering. These findings do not suggest a clear, consistent link between net metering revision timelines and potential rate impacts. The timing and nature of net metering revisions are ultimately policy decisions based on state-level priorities and considerations.https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ade9c4ratessolarnet metering |
| spellingShingle | Eric O’Shaughnessy Jarett Zuboy Robert Margolis The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions Environmental Research: Energy rates solar net metering |
| title | The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| title_full | The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| title_fullStr | The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| title_short | The missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| title_sort | missing correlation between the potential rate impacts of rooftop solar and the timing of state net metering policy revisions |
| topic | rates solar net metering |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ade9c4 |
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