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State rules that apply
- What the rule says: “On March 31st of each calendar year, any remaining unused credits for kilowatt-hours accumulated during the previous year shall be granted to the electric utility, without any compensation”[1]
What it means for sizing and batteries
When exports earn close to the retail price, sizing the system to cover your yearly use is usually the best value, and a battery is mainly for backup rather than savings.
The calculator uses the statewide rule until we add utility rates. See what solar costs in Washington.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington have net metering?
Every Washington utility must offer net metering until June 30, 2029 or until net-metered capacity reaches 4% of its 1996 peak, whichever comes first. Monthly excess kWh roll forward as kWh credits, and any credits left on March 31 go to the utility unpaid. Puget Sound Energy's Schedule 150 stays open to new customers past its December 31, 2025 date until a replacement tariff is in place. No replacement had been filed with the UTC as of the October 2026 tariff copy.
sources
[ 1 ]Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.
- RCW 80.60.030 - Net energy measurement, charges for kilowatt-hour consumption, and credits for excess kilowatt-hour generationapp.leg.wa.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
Tariffs last re-checked November 5, 2026.
Change log
- What the rule says updated to “On March 31st of each calendar year, any remaining unused credits for kilowatt-hours accumulated during the previous year shall be granted to the electric utility, without any compensation” (RCW 80.60.030 - Net energy measurement, charges for kilowatt-hour consumption, and credits for excess kilowatt-hour generation).