Net metering is a contract that you sign with your utility that allows you to trade your power with them at retail rates. You get credit on your bill for your excess kilowatt hours (kWh) when your system is producing more than you consume. At night or when your system isn’t producing, you buy power from the utility like you do now. Typically, in New England we produce more than we consume during the summer and build up credits. Then during the less-sunny winters we use the accumulated credits.k