‘50 States of Solar’: Where Is Net Metering in the Crosshairs?

Is net metering still worth watching in 2026? Yes, and the latest state scorecard shows why.

Net metering (NEM) is the billing arrangement that pays you for the excess solar power your panels send back to the grid. It’s not as sexy as rebates and tax credits, but it’s one of the biggest factors in what your rooftop system earns.

And the rules change state by state, quarter by quarter. The NC Clean Energy Technology Center’s Q2 2026 “50 States of Solar” tracks those changes.

Here’s the big picture: over time, net metering compensation tends to get worse, not better. Successor programs usually pay less for exports than the plans they replace. That’s why the smartest move for most homeowners is to get on your state or utility’s current plan while it’s still generous, because those terms often lock in for years.

With that in mind, here are the state developments worth knowing.

Connecticut: a mandate to build successor programs

Connecticut ordered its utilities to develop net-metering and community solar successor programs. A “successor program” is the term regulators use for whatever replaces an expiring solar credit structure.

The good news is Connecticut will continue requiring some form of net metering (some states don’t!) and the program needs to be finalized by April 2028. But we don’t know what that is yet, and the national trend is to decrease solar export rates.

Homeowners considering solar in Connecticut will likely see better savings on the current plan than the new one.

Arizona: a grid access charge tossed out

Arizona courts vacated a utility grid access charge. That’s a fixed monthly fee some utilities try to add specifically to solar customers, on the theory that solar homes still lean on the grid.

The problem is these charges eat into your savings no matter how much you generate. By definition, excess solar power can’t offset a fixed charge.

Vacating one means Arizona solar owners keep more of what their panels produce. Fixed fees aimed at solar customers are the quiet enemy of a good payback period, so removing one raises the value of an existing or planned system.

Maryland: net-metering decision advancing

Maryland is moving forward on net-metering decisions, and the new plan is expected to have lower compensation rates for customers sending excess solar to the grid. The Public Service Commission is required to put a new program in place by July 2027.

Homeowners in Maryland will benefit by installing solar before this new net metering program kicks in.

Virginia: rules in motion for Dominion Energy

Virginia is also advancing net-metering decisions for Dominion Energy, calling for a shift to “net billing” instead of net metering. This appears to be similar to the shift California made to NEM 3.0, which drastically increased the value of having battery storage to reduce exporting solar power to the grid for less than it’s worth.

What a shifting NEM rule does to your solar savings

When your panels make more power than your home uses (think a sunny weekday afternoon), that power flows to the grid. Net metering decides what you get for it. Full retail net metering treats the grid like a battery: you bank credits at midday and spend them at night for roughly the same value.

Weaker successor programs pay you less for exports than you pay to buy power back. When that happens, a home battery starts to matter more, because storing your own midday power for evening use protects savings the utility no longer will. In these areas, a battery is essential to making the math work.

As a rule of thumb, the early bird gets the worm. We don’t recommend waiting to see if net metering values improve; it’s very unlikely to happen, and you’ll miss out on solar savings as you wait.

How to use this if you’re shopping now

Net metering is a moving target, and the long-term trend rarely favors waiting. Getting on today’s plan is often the best value you’ll see.

If you’re curious about solar and see your state listed above, it’s time to kick your search into high gear. Start on Solar.com. Get a price in 90 seconds with no phone calls or high-pressure sales pitch.