Michigan · Net metering · Mid-stack program

MI Net Metering

Sets the billing terms for excess solar generation sent back to the grid by residential customers in Michigan -- see the credit rate and how it shapes payback below.

Retail rate credit
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
14.4 yr
Michigan baseline payback
2
other Michigan programs
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Mid-stack program · mid directory

Michigan stacks 3 tracked programs; this net metering sits beside peer levers on a 14.4-year modeled baseline.

  • Stack3 programs
  • In-state #1/2
  • Type #19/46
  • Baseline14.4 yr

In-state directory place #1 of 2 (mid alphabet). National net metering directory #19 of 46. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Michigan utilities offer net metering for residential systems up to 150 kW.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Retail rate credit
State electricity rate
17.5¢/kWh
Michigan solar score
18/100

Solar's trajectory in Michigan

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Michigan reported to the EIA.

0 MW500 MW1.0 GW1.5 GW 2015201620172018201920202021202220232024 1.2 GW
Michigan now has about 1.2 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Michigan's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among Michigan's 2 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Michigan tracks 2 incentive types; net metering (1 program) governs the billing side, while the state's other tracked types handle upfront cost or ongoing payments.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

Where this net metering sits in Michigan's mid-size stack

The MI Net Metering governs how Michigan credits excess solar generation sent back to the grid, one of the state's DSIRE-tracked solar policies. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Retail rate credit. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Michigan averages 4 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 17.5¢/kWh, producing an estimated 7,008 kWh/year and $1,226 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $17,700. That baseline already implies a 14.4-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $12,950 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. Michigan has 3 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

What is the MI Net Metering among Michigan's mid-size programs?
The MI Net Metering is a net metering available to residential solar customers in Michigan. The stated benefit is Retail rate credit.
How does the MI Net Metering work?
Michigan utilities offer net metering for residential systems up to 150 kW.
Who is eligible for the MI Net Metering?
The program is available to residential customers in Michigan. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #1 of 2 (mid alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Michigan?
Michigan has an estimated 14.4-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,226/year in modeled savings. A net metering like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in Michigan?
Michigan has 3 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including MI Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · Michigan solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.