Net Metering Credit Shortfall Calculator

Know exactly how much value you surrender when a net billing tariff credits exports below the retail rate. Enter exported kWh and the credit rate to see the monthly dollar gap, the percentage of retail value retained, and how fixed customer charges affect your bill.

Kilowatt-hours sent back to the utility.
Utility compensation for exported energy.
Defaults to $0.18 if blank.
Utility customer charge unaffected by exports. Defaults to $0.

Check your utility tariff for seasonal, tiered, or minimum bill clauses that may change the results.

Examples

  • 750 kWh exported, $0.07 credit, $0.18 retail, $12 fixed fee ⇒ Credit value paid: $52.50 • Retail value of exports: $135.00 • Monthly shortfall: $82.50 • Credits cover 38.89% of the retail rate • Bill impact after fixed charges: -$40.50
  • 420 kWh exported, $0.16 credit, default retail, no fixed fee ⇒ Credit value paid: $67.20 • Retail value of exports: $75.60 • Monthly shortfall: $8.40 • Credits cover 88.89% of the retail rate • Bill impact after fixed charges: -$67.20

FAQ

How do I account for time-of-use periods?

Run the calculation separately for each TOU period with its own export volume and rates, then sum the shortfalls for a blended total.

Can I include production that offsets my own load?

This tool focuses on exported energy only. Subtract self-consumed kWh before entering the export figure to isolate compensation gaps.

What if the utility applies non-bypassable charges?

Add those fees to the fixed charge input so the bill impact reflects charges that credits cannot erase.

Additional Information

  • Net metering credits often settle at avoided-cost rates rather than full retail pricing.
  • Fixed customer charges remain on the bill even when exports offset all volumetric charges.
  • Use the shortfall to price out battery storage or load shifting that keeps more solar behind the meter.

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