What does the end of the net-metering regulation mean for you?
What does net-metering mean?
Net-metering means that you cancel out the energy you generate and feed into the power grid with the energy you consume. This happens on the final settlement of your annual contract. Your energy supplier will check how much solar power you generated and what your consumption was in the past year. Did you use more energy than you generated? You'll pay extra for your consumption. Have you generated more than you used? You'll receive a feed-in tariff. You can find how high your feed-in tariff is in your energy contract.
This is how it works now
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Consumed more power than you generated
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Generated more power than you consumed
The price of 1kWh of energy consists of different parts. In this article, we'll explain the most important 2: the bare delivery rate and the energy tax. The net-metering regulation cancels out both parts. Even when you feed energy into the power grid, the feed-in tariff is reimbursed. You have to register your solar roof with your network operator to net-meter.
Changes from 2027
From 1 January 2027, the net-metering regulation will stop. This means that you can no longer settle the energy you feed back with your consumption. Instead, you'll receive compensation for every kilowatt-hour you feed back in. Up to 1 January 2030, this compensation is at least 50% of the base supply rate.
In addition, the energy suppliers won't be allowed to charge costs that are directly tied to the net-metering regulation anymore. They can still pass on costs like imbalance costs, which arises from the energy you've fed in. This lowers the feed-in costs, but they don't fully disappear.
The advantage of direct consumption
Because the net-metering regulation is disappearing, you have the advantage of using your generated energy right away. The more power you use yourself, the less you have to feed back in. This saves you money and ensures you can earn back your solar panels even faster.
Tips to use more energy right away:
- Do laundry or dishes while your solar panels are generating energy.
- Charge your electric car.
- Use a boiler or heat pump.
Why solar panels remain a good idea
Even though the net-metering regulation is stopping, solar panels remain a smart choice. For example, you can lower your energy costs. It's also more attractive now as you don't have to pay any VAT for the delivery and installation of your solar panels. This makes the investment much more affordable.
Net-metering and feed-in costs
Because the supply and demand of energy always differ, the energy prices often differ as well. As a result, energy suppliers are making expenses with the net-metering regulation. That's because energy is sometimes more expensive than what you pay as a solar panel owner. For this difference, we ask for feed-in costs. You still pay less for energy with your own solar roof than you would if you didn't have solar panels.
