Have you ever looked at your utility bill and thought, “I wish my roof could do more work”? Welcome to the world of net energy metering. This method compensates you for the solar energy your panels send to the grid, which can save you a lot of money on your electricity bill.

Think about this: Sally down the street puts up a small solar array that makes 6 kW of power. On sunny days, her panels create more electricity than she needs. The extra electrons go back to the grid fast, and her utility adds up the credit. Sally’s bill won’t be as high by the end of the month. It might merely show a minor amount or a service cost. In some parts of Hawaii, Arizona, or sunny California, solar households can save 70% to 90% or more on their monthly expenditures. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) predicts that most homeowners should be able to make their money back in six to ten years. What’s next? It’s mostly gravy.

It’s not just for big homes, either. A medium-sized solar system that is the right size for your needs and is set up to capture southern rays can cut your costs in half. States like New York and New Jersey, where power is expensive but also good, save more money. A $200 bill can go down to $30–$50 before solar. The numbers are correct.

But there is fine print. Net metering is done in different ways in different places. When some utilities give you a dollar-for-dollar credit, that’s the “gold standard.” Some businesses will give you a discounted cost for the kilowatt-hours you send out. The “avoided cost” rate is what this is called. For instance, Oklahoma gives credits for exports at wholesale prices, not retail prices. This makes savings go down. Sometimes programs update without letting you know. It can be hard to do long-term math if your utility suddenly alters the regulations.

So, can net energy metering help you save money on your energy bills? Yes, for sure. The most important thing is to learn the laws of your utility, size your system right, and get used to having a little sun on your side. For thousands of people, it’s the last piece of the puzzle that will help them spend less for energy and leave a smaller carbon footprint. The sun won’t be sending any bills for a while.