Net metering explained

The net metering scheme applies to households with solar panels. With panels you often generate more during the day than you use at that moment. The surplus goes to the grid. In the evening and in winter you draw power from your supplier instead. Net metering balances the two over the year.

Feed back as much as you draw and you pay almost nothing for that part. For the amount you draw beyond what you feed back, you pay your normal rate. Your supplier settles this on your annual statement; you do not need to register for it yourself.

Net metering only applies on a small-connection supply point: the standard for homes up to 3x80 amps. If you have a heavier business connection, different rules apply and you do not fall under this scheme. Feed-in must enter on the same connection where you consume, and you must also actually draw power.

You cannot net meter without consumption. Almost every household with solar panels falls under this scheme, as long as the meter records feed-in separately.

You cannot net meter without limit. The cap is what you draw from the grid: you offset at most as much feed-in as your meter records as draw that year. Power you use directly while your panels generate never passes the meter, so it does not count here. Feed back more than you draw and the extra amount gets a separate feed-in payment.

That difference matters most when your panels generate far more than you use at home. The more you use while your panels produce, the less you rely on net metering and feed-in payments.

Your energy supplier looks at feed-in and draw on your annual statement, as recorded by your meter. While the net metering scheme applies, they settle these including energy tax and VAT. Feed-in is offset against draw, up to at most what you drew from the grid that year.

Example: say you use 2,200 kWh in a year and your panels generate 3,400 kWh. You use 1,100 kWh directly while the sun is out; that power never passes the meter. You then draw 1,100 kWh from the grid (2,200 minus 1,100) and feed back 2,300 kWh (3,400 minus 1,100). Your supplier offsets 1,100 kWh of feed-in against your draw. For the remaining 1,200 kWh you receive a feed-in payment.

How much you gain in the end depends on how well your use matches your generation. A smart meter records draw and feed-in separately so the annual statement is correct.

If you feed back more than you draw, your supplier pays a feed-in payment for that surplus. The Energy Act (Energiewet), which replaced the old Electricity Act on 1 January 2026, requires that payment to be reasonable. From 1 January 2027 a legal floor also applies: at least 50 percent of the bare supply rate, at least until 2030. The amount differs by supplier and is set out in your contract, usually lower than the rate you pay to draw power.

More suppliers also charge feed-in costs: a fee for processing power fed back to the grid. Those costs are in your contract too. Sometimes the feed-in payment after those charges is lower than you expect. Which forms exist and how to limit them is covered on our page about feed-in charges. Compare contracts and check the terms before switching.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) supervises reasonable tariffs. If in doubt, compare your contract with ACM's explanation of net metering.

To feed back and net meter you need a meter that records draw and feed-in separately and passes those readings to your supplier. A smart meter does that automatically. Via the P1 port you can read that data yourself, for example for an energy monitor or home battery.

Still on an old spinning meter? It does not record feed-in reliably enough for correct settlement. If unsure, check with your grid operator or supplier which meter you have and whether replacement is needed.

Net metering ends on 1 January 2027. Up to and including 31 December 2026 you can still net meter in full on your annual statement. After that your supplier no longer offsets feed-in against draw; you receive a feed-in payment for what you export. The government chose to end the scheme in one step, not to phase it down gradually from 2025. Read more on the Dutch government site and ACM net metering (Dutch).

What you can already do: use more of your own power directly. Running appliances during the day helps. A home battery stores surplus for the evening so you depend less on feed-in. Whether that pays off depends on your use, tariff and setup.

Unsure what this means for your meter and contract? Ask us and we look at your use and tariff with you.

At SolarFast we check your fuse box, smart meter and whether feed-in is recorded separately during the site survey. That avoids surprises on your annual statement. If you do not yet have a suitable meter, we discuss what is needed before we install panels.

In your quote we calculate payback based on your use and tariff, not fixed assumptions that may be outdated tomorrow. Considering a home battery? See our comparison with and without a battery, or ask for advice with your quote.