What is Net Metering & HOw does it work?

1. Have a solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed at your home or business.

2. Be a customer of Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power, Clark Public Utilities or any other utility company that offers net metering. Most electric utilities in Oregon and Washington are required to provide net metering programs.

1. **Consultation:** Contact Pinnacle Solar NW and we’ll provide a detailed analysis based on your energy needs and determine the best system size for your property.

2. **Installation:** We’ll work with you to equip your home or business with a solar PV system.

3. **Utility Agreement:** We’ll arrange for you to sign a net metering agreement with PGE, Pacific Power, Clark Public Utilities, or your other utility company. They will perform an inspection before swapping your existing meter for a ‘net’ meter and giving final approval.

4. **Enjoy the Benefits:** Once approved, your system is connected to the grid, and you can start generating solar energy and receiving credits.

  System Cap: Unless you expect your annual electricity usage to increase, it does not make financial sense to have a system installed that will produce more electricity than you use each year. 

Rollover Credits:  When your PV system generates more electricity than you use in a given billing period, you can carry forward (rollover) those surplus production credits to the following month.  However, the credits expire annually.  The default 12-month cycle for PGE, Pacific Power, and Clark Public Utilities runs from April 1st through March 31st. If you have any unused surplus solar production credits left over from the previous summer when April 1st comes around, those credits are donated to low-income utility customers. 

Connection Fees and Charges: Pinnacle Solar will cover the cost of interconnection application and net metering fees. This does not include any fees related to service or transformer upgrades.