NV Energy net metering

Any NV Energy customer with a renewable energy system can be eligible to participate in net metering, which is a program where you can use your excess energy to offset your power bill. When your system is not producing energy at night or on cloudy days, energy will flow through the power grid from NV Energy to your home as usual. When you produce excess energy during the day, that energy will flow back to the grid.

NV Energy’s net metering policy has undergone a number of changes over the past two years. At the end of 2015, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approved new policies that would reduce the value of net metering credits to NV Energy Customers. However, in June 2017 the Nevada legislature approved rules that reinstate net metering for NV Energy customers. Credits for new net metering customers will be valued at 75% of the retail rate of electricity.

There are some caps on system sizes if you apply through the incentive program. Reference NV Energy Rule 15 Interconnection guidelines for limits (Northern NV / Southern NV).

NV Energy offers net metering in both of its jurisdictions, Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada. Each have their own rate schedule, which can be accessed in the table below. They also have their own ways of billing. NV Energy has written billing instructions for both areas; the Northern Nevada PDF can be viewed here and the Southern Nevada PDF can be viewed here.

NV Energy customers are eligible for a modified net metering program that pays customers an “excess energy credit” for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity that they send back to the grid after monthly netting. This credit is worth slightly less than the rate that customers pay for electricity from the utility, and is determined by calculating a percentage of the retail rate.

Customers are guaranteed to receive the rate they initially receive for a 20-year period. As of early 2021, NV Energy's net metering rate is 75% of the retail rate. Credit rates with a higher percentage of the retail rate are no longer available to new customers.

NV Energy customers have the option of participating in a standard rate schedule or a Time of Use (TOU) rate schedule. Customers in the standard rate schedule are billed for their energy at a standard rate. Participants of the TOU rate schedule are billed at different rates depending on the time of day. At peak hours, like during the day, rates go up, and at off peak hours, like during the night, the rate goes down. Customers can compare the rate schedules (northern Nevada and southern Nevada) to their bill to see which structure is the most cost-effective for them.

Prior to August 2015, Nevada had a net metering cap of 235 MW. However, NV Energy no longer has a cap for its net metering program.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada only regulates the operations of Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company, both of which are owned under NV Energy. So while NV Energy is the only net metering program in the state, they have a large, established program for their customers.

When your system produces excess energy, NV Energy will provide you with a monetary credit on your next monthly bill for all excess power delivered back to the grid.

NV Energy offers a variety of incentives to switch to renewable energy. They offer installation subsidies for solar electricity, solar heating, wind power, and hydropower to different categories of customers. Learn more about these and other Nevada rebates & incentives with EnergySage’s Nevada Solar Incentives guide.

NV Energy customers that qualify for net metering fall into two categories: incentivized and non-incentivized. The incentive program, known as the RenewableGenerations program, helps customers reduce the cost of installing renewable energy sources. In order to be eligible for the incentive, NV Energy requires that you work with a licensed contractor.

All customers, incentive program or otherwise, can apply directly to the net metering program by filling out an application in PowerClerk Interconnect. NV Energy will review the application, ask for a signature, and then will do a final review of the paperwork. Finally, NV Energy inspects the system, sets the two-way meter (for incentivized installations only), and connects the system to the grid.

In order to be eligible for the incentive, NV Energy requires that you work with a licensed contractor.

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