41
Full Retail NM
Earn full rate on exports
8
Partial / Avoided Cost
Earn less than retail
2
None / Limited
No grid credit for exports
Net metering policy is one of the most important factors determining solar ROI in your state. Below is a complete state-by-state breakdown of net metering policies, along with each state's electricity rate, which together determine how much your exported solar electricity is worth.
How to read this table: States with full retail net metering AND high electricity rates offer the best economics for solar. States with partial or no net metering require higher self-consumption ratios (or battery storage) to maximize ROI.
The short answer
Full retail net metering alone doesn't guarantee the best export value: among the 41 full-retail states, Connecticut pairs that policy with a 28.5¢/kWh rate, the actual combination that maximizes what your exports are worth.
- 41
- full retail net metering states
- 28.5¢
- top rate among them (Connecticut)
- 2
- states with no net metering at all
Best export value among full-retail states
Full-retail net-metering states ranked by their own electricity rate
- Connecticut
28.5¢/kWh, full retail credit
29 ¢/kWh
- Massachusetts
27.5¢/kWh, full retail credit
28 ¢/kWh
- Rhode Island
26.0¢/kWh, full retail credit
26 ¢/kWh
- Maine
26.0¢/kWh, full retail credit
26 ¢/kWh
- New Hampshire
25.5¢/kWh, full retail credit
26 ¢/kWh
- Vermont
22.5¢/kWh, full retail credit
23 ¢/kWh
- Alaska
22.5¢/kWh, full retail credit
23 ¢/kWh
- New York
22.0¢/kWh, full retail credit
22 ¢/kWh
What this shows Full retail credit sets the RATE you're paid; your own state's electricity rate sets how much that rate is worth. The same policy is worth far more in a high-rate state than a low-rate one.
Full Retail Net Metering States (41)
You earn the full retail electricity rate for every kWh exported to the grid. This is the most solar-friendly policy, excess production earns full credit toward future bills.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 28.5¢ | 8.9 yr |
| Massachusetts | 27.5¢ | 9.2 yr |
| Rhode Island | 26.0¢ | 9.7 yr |
| Maine | 26.0¢ | 9.3 yr |
| New Hampshire | 25.5¢ | 9.8 yr |
| Vermont | 22.5¢ | 11.5 yr |
| Alaska | 22.5¢ | 17 yr |
| New York | 22.0¢ | 11.1 yr |
| District of Columbia | 19.5¢ | 13 yr |
| New Jersey | 18.5¢ | 12.8 yr |
| Michigan | 17.5¢ | 14.4 yr |
| Illinois | 16.5¢ | 14 yr |
| Pennsylvania | 16.5¢ | 14.2 yr |
| Wisconsin | 16.5¢ | 14.2 yr |
| Maryland | 16.0¢ | 14.3 yr |
| Delaware | 14.8¢ | 15.4 yr |
| Florida | 14.5¢ | 12 yr |
| Ohio | 14.5¢ | 16.3 yr |
| Colorado | 14.2¢ | 12.3 yr |
| Minnesota | 14.2¢ | 15.9 yr |
| New Mexico | 14.0¢ | 10.3 yr |
| Virginia | 13.8¢ | 15 yr |
| Arizona | 13.5¢ | 10.3 yr |
| Kansas | 13.2¢ | 13.7 yr |
| North Carolina | 12.8¢ | 14.4 yr |
| Missouri | 12.8¢ | 15.6 yr |
| Oregon | 12.8¢ | 16.9 yr |
| Nevada | 12.5¢ | 11.9 yr |
| Iowa | 12.5¢ | 16.7 yr |
| Montana | 11.8¢ | 16.3 yr |
| Kentucky | 11.8¢ | 17.7 yr |
| Oklahoma | 11.5¢ | 15.5 yr |
| Nebraska | 11.5¢ | 16.4 yr |
| Arkansas | 11.4¢ | 17.2 yr |
| Wyoming | 11.2¢ | 15.3 yr |
| South Dakota | 11.0¢ | 17.1 yr |
| Utah | 10.8¢ | 14.5 yr |
| North Dakota | 10.8¢ | 18.2 yr |
| Washington | 10.5¢ | 26.6 yr |
| Louisiana | 10.2¢ | 17.8 yr |
| Idaho | 10.0¢ | 20 yr |
Partial / Avoided Cost Net Metering States (8)
You receive less than the full retail rate, typically the utility's "avoided cost" (what it would pay to generate that power itself), usually 4–8¢/kWh. Self-consumption is critical here; battery storage often improves ROI.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 38.0¢ | 5.2 yr |
| California | 30.0¢ | 6.3 yr |
| Texas | 14.0¢ | 11.8 yr |
| Alabama | 13.8¢ | 14.4 yr |
| South Carolina | 13.2¢ | 14 yr |
| Georgia | 12.5¢ | 14.5 yr |
| Mississippi | 12.0¢ | 15.7 yr |
| Tennessee | 11.5¢ | 16.7 yr |
No Net Metering / Limited States (2)
Limited or no formal net metering policy. In these states, solar ROI depends almost entirely on self-consumption. Battery storage and time-of-use rate optimization are essential.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 13.8¢ | 15.8 yr |
| West Virginia | 12.0¢ | 19.4 yr |
Key Takeaways
- Full retail net metering + high electricity rates = fastest payback. States like Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Connecticut check both boxes
- California is the exception. Despite high rates, NEM 3.0 drastically reduced export value. Battery storage has become near-mandatory for new California installations
- Low-rate states need irradiance to compensate. Arizona and Nevada have excellent sun but modest rates; their strong solar scores rely on irradiance volume
- Policies change. Florida's legislature has signaled a move from full retail NM to avoided-cost after 2029. Florida solar installations are time-sensitive
- Municipal utilities may differ. This table reflects state-level policy. Your specific investor-owned utility, electric co-op, or municipal utility may have different rates
Net metering classifications sourced from DSIRE USA database. Policies current as of early 2026. State net metering rules evolve through legislation and utility commission decisions, verify current policy with your state public utilities commission before installing. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are not required to follow state net metering mandates in all states.
What to do with this
- Find your own state in the tables above before assuming a national average applies. Full state solar rankings
- Run the calculator with your real bill to see how your export credit changes payback. Solar calculator
- In a partial or no-net-metering state, weigh battery storage to lift self-consumption. Battery storage guide
Net-metering rules are set at the state level; municipal utilities and co-ops may differ. Always confirm current terms with your specific utility.