Home Electrical Part 10: Net metering — when your meter runs backwards
How a net meter counts units you import and export, so solar you don't use is sold to the grid and taken off your bill.
Can your electricity meter run BACKWARDS? Yes! ☀️🔄
☀️ Noon: your solar panels make 5 kW, your home uses only 2 kW.
➡️ The extra 3 kW flows out to the grid — a two-way (net) meter counts it as EXPORT.
🌙 Night: you take power back from the grid — the meter counts IMPORT.
At the end of the month:
Used 300 kWh − sent back 200 kWh = you pay for just 100 kWh. 💰
⚠️ Rules differ by country and power company — some pay a different price for the energy you send back (net billing / export tariffs). Ask yours!
Read the voiceover (transcript)
- Can your electricity meter run backwards? Yes!
- At noon, your solar panels make more than your home uses.
- The extra flows out to the grid, and the meter counts it.
- At night, you take power back from the grid.
- Use three hundred kilowatt-hours, send back two hundred...
- and you pay for just one hundred! Rules differ by country.
- Next, Part eleven: how smart meters talk. Follow for Part eleven!
Related lessons
Get new lessons + early access to the full course
One email when new lessons drop. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
✓ You're on the list! We'll email you when new lessons drop.
By joining you agree to the privacy policy.