The rules, plainly
What the regulator allows, how it stacks with net metering, and what to expect at tax time.
NEM 3.0 export credits are low, which is exactly why the market pays more. Unsold blocks are still credited under your NEM agreement.
Payouts are reported as income. Most household sellers stay under the federal reporting threshold; the year-end statement covers everything.
California Public Utilities Commission oversees export rules. Peer sales run through the same interconnection you already have.
California is our largest market. High afternoon demand and low net-metering credits mean the gap between what the utility pays and what the market pays is the widest anywhere.
Why it works so well here
- Solar exports are credited at roughly $0.05 to $0.08 under NEM 3.0. The market has averaged well above that all year.
- The evening peak is long and expensive, so home batteries earn especially well from 5pm to 9pm.
- Wildfire-season demand-response events push prices up further for anyone with storage.
Cities
Sacramento and San Diego are live with hundreds of sellers each. Los Angeles and the Bay Area open next quarter.