Solar 101
Solar Net Metering in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Solar net metering can help homeowners lower their electric bills while generating clean energy at home. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the excess power is sent to the grid. Utilities such as Pepco, BGE, and Dominion Energy then apply credits to your electric bill based on local net metering rules. These credits can help offset the electricity you use when your panels are not producing enough power.
Solar Panel Owners earn credits from excess electricity
What is Net Metering and How Does It Work?
Net metering allows homeowners with solar panels to receive bill credits for excess electricity their system sends to the power grid. When your panels produce more energy than your home uses, the unused electricity flows back to your utility company, and a credit is applied to your electric bill.
During sunnier months, your solar system may produce more electricity than you consume, allowing credits to build up. During winter or periods of higher energy use, you may draw more electricity from the grid and use those credits to help offset the cost.
Net metering policies and credit values vary by utility and location. Uprise Solar and Roofing helps homeowners across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia understand their local net metering rules and estimate how much solar could reduce their electric bills.
Solar Incentives in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Solar incentives in DC, Maryland, and Virginia can help homeowners reduce the cost of going solar and increase their long-term savings. Available benefits vary based on where you live, how you finance your system, and whether you meet certain income requirements.
Virginia Solar Incentives
Virginia homeowners can reduce their electric bills through solar net metering. When your panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the excess power is sent to the grid and credited to your utility account.
Solar system owners may also generate Renewable Energy Certificates, or RECs. However, Virginia does not have the same dedicated, solar-specific SREC market available in Washington, DC and Maryland.
Maryland Solar Incentives
Maryland homeowners can benefit from net metering and Solar Renewable Energy Credits, commonly called SRECs. Eligible system owners earn one SREC for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours of solar electricity their system produces. These credits can be sold to create additional income from the system.
Income-qualified homeowners may also be eligible for financial assistance through the Maryland Solar Access Program.
Washington, DC Solar Incentives
Washington, DC has one of the country’s strongest SREC markets. Eligible solar system owners can earn and sell SRECs based on the amount of electricity their panels generate, creating a valuable source of additional solar income.
SREC ownership depends on how the solar system is financed. Homeowners who purchase their system typically retain the SRECs, while a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement may assign them to the system owner or financing provider.
Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?
Standard grid-connected solar panels will not power your home during a power outage. Even when the sun is shining, the system’s inverter automatically stops sending electricity to your home and the utility grid.
This safety feature is called anti-islanding. It prevents your solar system from sending electricity onto power lines while utility crews are working to restore service.
Why Do Solar Panels Shut Down During an Outage?
Most residential solar systems are connected to the electric grid. When the inverter detects a loss of grid power, it automatically shuts down the system. Once utility service is restored, the solar system will reconnect and resume normal operation.
The shutdown is controlled by the solar inverter and safety equipment, not by your net meter.
Can Solar Panels Provide Backup Power?
Solar panels can provide electricity during a power outage when the system includes compatible backup equipment, typically a solar battery and system controller. The equipment safely disconnects your home from the utility grid and creates a temporary source of power for selected circuits or the entire home.
A properly designed solar and battery system can keep essential equipment running, such as refrigerators, lights, internet equipment, medical devices, and certain heating or cooling systems.
Add Battery Backup to Your Solar System
Uprise Solar and Roofing designs solar and battery systems for homeowners across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We can help you determine how much battery storage your home needs and which appliances you want to power during an outage.
See How Net Metering Could Lower Your Electric Bill
Uprise Solar and Roofing helps homeowners across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia understand net metering, solar incentives, and available financing options.
Request a free solar review to see how much electricity your home can produce and how solar may affect your monthly utility bill.
See How Much You Could Save
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