Ohio’s Net Metering: A Perk You Don’t Want to Lose

If you’ve been thinking about going solar in Ohio, now might be the time to act—because net metering is still available, but its future is uncertain.

Net metering is one of the best perks for solar owners. It lets you send excess electricity from your solar panels back to the grid and get credits on your utility bill. On a sunny day, your panels might generate more power than you need, and instead of wasting it, you can “sell” it to your utility company. Then, when the sun isn’t shining—like at night or on cloudy days—you can use those credits to offset the cost of the electricity you pull from the grid.

Right now, Ohio requires investor-owned utilities like AEP, Duke Energy, FirstEnergy, and Dayton Power & Light to offer net metering. That means if you’re a customer of one of these companies, you can take advantage of the program. But here’s the catch—utilities aren’t required to credit you at the full retail rate, and most don’t. So while you’re getting something back, it’s not always a dollar-for-dollar exchange.

The bigger concern is whether net metering will stick around. Across the country, states have been rolling back their net metering policies, making it harder for homeowners to benefit from solar power. California, once a leader in solar incentives, slashed its net metering program in 2023, cutting compensation rates by about 75%. Kentucky followed suit, eliminating full retail credit for excess solar energy. And when states start making changes like this, others tend to follow.

So what does that mean for Ohio? Right now, there aren’t any official proposals to change net metering, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe forever. If utilities push for policy changes, solar customers could see their benefits shrink—or disappear altogether.

If you’ve been on the fence about installing solar, this might be the nudge you need. Locking in net metering while it’s still available could mean years of savings and energy independence. The sooner you act, the better chance you have of securing the best possible deal before any changes roll in.

Solar isn’t just about saving money—it’s about taking control of your energy future. And with net metering still in play, Ohioans have a golden opportunity to make the most of it. The question is: will you take it?