NEM Policy Tracker
Compare net energy metering policies and export rates for all 50 US states. See how your state's NEM policy impacts solar payback.
Full Retail NEM
21
states
Avg NEM Rate
$0.130
per kWh
Highest Rate
$0.305
Massachusetts
Lowest Rate
$0.040
Tennessee
Utility-Level Net Metering Detail
62 utilitiesNEM policies vary by utility within a state. Select your state and utility to see exact export credit rates, program caps, and enrollment status.
No utility-level data available for this state yet — see the state-level summary below.
Looking for state-level NEM overview? View state summary →
Interactive NEM Payback Calculator
Select your state and enter system details to see how NEM policy affects your solar payback period.
NEM Rate
—
—
Annual NEM Credits
—
from excess solar
Total Annual Savings
—
per year
Payback Period
—
years
Ready to Go Solar?
Get free, no-obligation quotes from certified solar installers in your area.
Get Free Solar QuotesSelect your state and system details above, then click Calculate.
50-State NEM Comparison
Click any column header to sort. Filter by policy type.
| State ↕ | NEM Rate ($/kWh) ↕ | Policy Type ↕ | Retail Rate ↕ | % of Retail ↕ | Status |
|---|
California NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff)
The most impactful NEM policy change in the country
| Policy | Export Rate | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEM 2.0 (pre-April 2023) | $0.30–$0.40/kWh | Near-retail | Grandfathered 20 yrs from PTO (~2043) |
| NEM 3.0 (current) | $0.05–$0.08/kWh | Avoided cost | Final — Confirmed |
| Impact | ~75–85% reduction in export compensation | ||
What This Means for Homeowners
- Under NEM 2.0, excess solar was credited at near-retail rates ($0.30–$0.40/kWh), making solar very lucrative
- Under NEM 3.0, exports are credited at the avoided-cost rate (~$0.05–$0.08/kWh), dramatically reducing the value of exported energy
- Battery storage is now critical — store excess solar and use it at night rather than exporting at low rates
- Solar still makes financial sense in CA due to high retail rates ($0.30–$0.40+/kWh), but payback is longer (7–12 years vs 5–7 under NEM 2.0)
Court Challenge Status
A legal challenge to NEM 3.0 was filed but defeated in March 2026, confirming the rates as final. The CPUC's Net Billing Tariff (Decision 22-12-056) is no longer subject to legal challenge. Existing NEM 2.0 customers remain grandfathered at their legacy rates until 2031.
California vs. Texas: Different Solar Markets
CA NEM 3.0 Export Rate
$0.05–$0.08/kWh
Fixed, regulated tariff
TX REP Buyback Rates
$0.03–$0.15/kWh
Market-based, can spike
Market Structure
CA: Regulated · TX: Deregulated
CA = utility tariff; TX = competitive REP plans
Highest NEM Rates
Lowest NEM Rates
Browse by State
Alabama
$0.045/kWh
31% of retail (Active)
Alaska
$0.282/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Arizona
$0.058/kWh
43% of retail (Active)
Arkansas
$0.055/kWh
49% of retail (Active)
California
$0.065/kWh
20% of retail (Final)
Colorado
$0.162/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Connecticut
$0.232/kWh
85% of retail (Active)
Delaware
$0.194/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Florida
$0.138/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Georgia
$0.060/kWh
48% of retail (Active)
Hawaii
$0.080/kWh
22% of retail (Active)
Idaho
$0.040/kWh
40% of retail (Active)
Illinois
$0.238/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Indiana
$0.060/kWh
49% of retail (Active)
Iowa
$0.141/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Kansas
$0.055/kWh
44% of retail (Active)
Kentucky
$0.050/kWh
43% of retail (Active)
Louisiana
$0.141/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Maine
$0.286/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Maryland
$0.218/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Massachusetts
$0.305/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Michigan
$0.085/kWh
54% of retail (Active)
Minnesota
$0.170/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Mississippi
$0.048/kWh
41% of retail (Active)
Missouri
$0.137/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Montana
$0.147/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Nebraska
$0.048/kWh
44% of retail (Active)
Nevada
$0.075/kWh
60% of retail (Active)
New Hampshire
$0.273/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
New Jersey
$0.233/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
New Mexico
$0.135/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
New York
$0.224/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
North Carolina
$0.151/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
North Dakota
$0.048/kWh
49% of retail (Active)
Ohio
$0.065/kWh
51% of retail (Active)
Oklahoma
$0.042/kWh
40% of retail (Active)
Oregon
$0.163/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Pennsylvania
$0.215/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Rhode Island
$0.236/kWh
80% of retail (Active)
South Carolina
$0.060/kWh
45% of retail (Active)
South Dakota
$0.045/kWh
40% of retail (Active)
Tennessee
$0.040/kWh
37% of retail (Active)
Texas
$0.055/kWh
43% of retail (Active)
Utah
$0.060/kWh
57% of retail (Active)
Vermont
$0.205/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Virginia
$0.176/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Washington
$0.149/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
West Virginia
$0.168/kWh
100% of retail (Active)
Wisconsin
$0.070/kWh
46% of retail (Active)
Wyoming
$0.050/kWh
48% of retail (Active)
NEM rates shown are approximate export compensation rates and may vary by utility within a state. Data should be verified with your local utility. Last verified 2026-07-20 (Q3 2026 audit — see audit log below).
Q3 2026 Verification Audit Log
Last verified: 2026-07-20. Targets reviewed against official utility and PUC sources. Per our anti-guessing policy, rates that could not be confirmed from official sources are left unchanged.
- ✓California NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff): Confirmed. NEM 2.0 closed to new enrollments; NBT export at avoided-cost rate per CPUC Decision 22-12-056. CPUC Customer Generation →
- ?Duke Energy NC export rate: Audit inconclusive on 2026-07-20. NCUC indices reviewed (ncuc.net) but no Q3 2026 export-compensation change was identifiable from official filings. Existing entry retained.
- ?Duke Energy IN export rate: Audit inconclusive on 2026-07-20. IURC docket index reviewed (in.gov/iurc) but no Q3 2026 specific NEM/export change was identifiable. Existing entry retained.
- ?TVA TN export rate (~$0.03/kWh): Audit inconclusive on 2026-07-20. TVA solar program landing pages returned 404; current official rate could not be confirmed. Existing entry retained — verify directly with your TVA distributor.
Audit conducted 2026-07-20 against official sources. To request a re-audit of a specific utility, contact us — include a link to the official tariff filing or PUC order.