Net metering in Pennsylvania

What is net metering?

Net metering is the policy that allows people with solar to get a credit on their electric bill for the energy they produce from their system.

Learn the basics

Net metering in Pennsylvania

System capacity limit 50 kW for Residential
3 MW for Non-residential
5 MW for micro-grid and emergency systems
Monthly excess generation credit rate Full retail
Annual excess generation credit rate Price-to-compare rate (generation and transmission, reconciled yearly)
State-wide net metering cap None specified
Applicable utilities Investor owned utilities
Policies expanding net metering Virtual meter aggregation
Additional barriers Annual excess generation rate should be increased to full retail. Should lift 50kW limit on residential systems
Third-Party Ownership Third-party ownership models, such as power purchase agreements and solar leases are allowed for net metered systems.


Pennsylvania Code Chapter 75.11 establishes the rules of net metering in Pennsylvania. Residential customers of all investor-owned utilities with system capacity up to 50 kW may net meter. Electric generation suppliers which are not a customer’s default service provider are not required to net meter. To qualify for net metering, the customer must consume energy on the property where generation is taking place, but not just to operate the generating system.

Billing and compensation

Utility customers with net metered systems will be credited for each kilowatt produced by their system and each month will be billed for the number of kilowatt hours they used, minus the number of kilowatt hours generated. If what your system generates exceeds your usage for a given month, you will receive a credit for each excess kilowatt hour, to be applied in later months when you generate less electricity than you consume. Utilities may not charge net metering customers fees that they would not charge a non-net metered customer without the approval of the PSC. At the end of each 12-month billing cycle, utilities will compensate net-metered generators for their excess credits at the “price-to-compare,” which equals the retail price of the electricity minus the distribution component.

Other types of net metering in Pennsylvania

Virtual meter aggregation: Both are allowed for properties owned by the same customer. The properties must be within the same utility’s service zone and must be within two miles of the property where generation takes place.

Take action

Having trouble interconnecting your system?

If you’re having trouble with net metering or getting your system interconnected, post to the Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania listserv to get help.

 File a complaint 

Our utilities exist to serve their customers. If you’re having a problem that isn’t being resolved quickly by your utility, file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Pennsylvania resources