⚡ 40 Major US Investor-Owned & Municipal Utilities Audited
2026 Electric Utility Net Metering, TOU Rates & Battery ROI Directory
Your electric utility—not your solar installer—dictates how much every kilowatt-hour your roof generates is actually worth. Inspect our forensic teardowns of 40 major US utilities below.
| Electric Utility | 2026 Tariff Classification | On-Peak Rate | Battery Payback | Teardown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas North Carolina & South Carolina | Solar Choice TOU Bridge / Net Billing | $0.19 – $0.24 / kWh (Critical Peak) | ⚡ 4.8 Years (with $9,000 Duke PowerPair Rebate) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Duke Energy Progress Eastern NC, Raleigh, Asheville & SC | Solar Choice TOU Bridge / Net Billing | $0.19 – $0.25 / kWh (On-Peak) | ⚡ 4.7 Years (with Duke PowerPair Incentive) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Duke Energy Florida Central Florida, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Orlando Suburbs | 1:1 Retail Net Metering (with $30/mo Minimum Bill) | $0.17 – $0.19 / kWh | ⚡ 5.9 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Dominion Energy Virginia Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads | 1:1 Retail Net Metering (Virginia Clean Economy Act) | $0.16 – $0.19 / kWh | ⚡ 5.8 Years (with VA SREC Income) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| National Grid (Upstate New York) Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Capital Region, Utica | NY VDER Phase One Net Metering (1:1 + CBC) | $0.23 – $0.27 / kWh | ⚡ 5.6 Years (after NY-Sun + $5,000 NY State Tax Credit) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| National Grid Massachusetts Worcester, Lowell, North Shore, Fall River, Nantucket | MA 1:1 Net Metering (≤10 kW AC) + ConnectedSolutions | $0.33 – $0.37 / kWh | ⚡ 4.4 Years (with $275/kW/yr ConnectedSolutions Payouts) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Xcel Energy Colorado Denver Metro, Boulder, Aurora, Lakewood, Grand Junction | 1:1 Retail Net Metering with Residential TOU | $0.27 – $0.31 / kWh (3pm–7pm Summer Peak) | ⚡ 5.7 Years (with Xcel Battery Connect Incentives) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Xcel Energy Minnesota Minneapolis, St. Paul, Twin Cities Metro | 1:1 Average Retail Utility Energy Rate Net Metering | $0.19 – $0.23 / kWh (Summer Peak) | ⚡ 6.2 Years (with Solar*Rewards PBI) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Georgia Power Atlanta Metro, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus | RNR Instantaneous Netting (Avoided Cost Export) | $0.23 – $0.31 / kWh (Summer TOU Peak 2pm–7pm) | ⚡ 5.4 Years (Direct Solar + Battery) vs 12.8 Yrs Solar-Only | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Southern California Edison (SCE) Los Angeles Suburbs, Orange County, Inland Empire, Ventura | CPUC NEM 3.0 Net Billing (TOU-D-PRIME) | $0.54 – $0.64 / kWh (4pm–9pm Peak) | ⚡ 4.6 Years (Direct Battery) vs 13.8 Yrs Solar-Only | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose, Oakland, Fresno, Central Valley | CPUC NEM 3.0 Net Billing (E-ELEC Schedule) | $0.58 – $0.68 / kWh (4pm–9pm Peak) | ⚡ 4.3 Years (Direct Battery) vs 13.9 Yrs Solar-Only | Read Tariff Audit → |
| San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) San Diego County & Southern Orange County | CPUC NEM 3.0 Net Billing (EV-TOU-5 / TOU-DR1) | $0.65 – $0.82 / kWh (4pm–9pm Summer Peak) | ⚡ 4.1 Years (Fastest in the US with Direct Battery) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| LADWP (Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power) City of Los Angeles & San Fernando Valley | Municipal 1:1 Net Energy Metering (NEM) | $0.29 – $0.38 / kWh (R-1B TOU High Peak) | ⚡ 5.1 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) Sacramento County & Portions of Placer County | SMUD Solar & Storage Rate ($0.074/kWh Export) | $0.35 – $0.37 / kWh (5pm–8pm Summer TOD Peak) | ⚡ 5.3 Years (with SMUD VPP Rebate) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Salt River Project (SRP) East Valley Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe | SRP E-27 Customer Generation (Demand Charge) / E-13 Export | $0.21 – $0.26 / kWh + $9.59–$34.19/kW Demand Charge | ⚡ 4.9 Years (with Automated Demand Peak Shaving) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Arizona Public Service (APS) Phoenix, Scottsdale, West Valley, Prescott, Flagstaff, Yuma | Resource Comparison Proxy (RCP) Net Billing | $0.34 – $0.36 / kWh (4pm–7pm Summer Peak) | ⚡ 5.1 Years (Direct Battery) vs 9.6 Yrs Solar-Only | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Entergy (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi) The Woodlands, Conroe, Beaumont (TX) & New Orleans / Baton Rouge (LA) | Avoided Cost Net Billing (~$0.04–$0.055/kWh Export) | $0.15 – $0.18 / kWh | ⚡ 5.8 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| DTE Energy Detroit Metro, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb & Washtenaw Counties | MPSC Inflow / Outflow Distributed Generation Tariff | $0.23 – $0.27 / kWh (3pm–7pm Weekday Peak) | ⚡ 5.6 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Consumers Energy Grand Rapids, Flint, Lansing Suburbs, Kalamazoo, Traverse City | MPSC Inflow / Outflow Distributed Generation Tariff | $0.24 – $0.28 / kWh (2pm–7pm Summer Peak) | ⚡ 5.7 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Ameren (Illinois & Missouri) Downstate Illinois (Metro East, Peoria, Champaign) & St. Louis, MO | Supply Net Metering + Illinois Shines Upfront SRECs (IL) | $0.18 – $0.22 / kWh | ⚡ 4.2 Years (Illinois CEJA Rebates + SRECs) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Evergy (Kansas & Kansas City Metro) Kansas City Metro, Wichita, Topeka, Overland Park, Olathe | 1:1 Net Metering with TOU (Parallel Generation) | $0.21 – $0.28 / kWh (4pm–8pm Summer Peak) | ⚡ 6.1 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| PPL Electric Utilities Allentown, Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre | PA 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering + Annual Price-to-Compare Cashout | $0.19 – $0.22 / kWh | ⚡ 5.9 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| PECO Energy (Exelon) Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester & Delaware Counties | PA 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering + Solar Rebate | $0.20 – $0.24 / kWh | ⚡ 5.7 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric) Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Howard, Harford | Maryland 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering + MD SRECs | $0.20 – $0.24 / kWh | ⚡ 5.1 Years (with 30% MD Storage Credit + SRECs) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Company) Montgomery County, Prince George's County (MD) & Washington, D.C. | 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering + MD / DC SRECs | $0.21 – $0.25 / kWh | ⚡ 4.5 Years (MD) / 3.2 Years (DC SREC Market) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Eversource Energy (MA, CT, NH) Boston, Eastern/Western MA, Hartford & Stamford (CT), Manchester (NH) | MA 1:1 Net Metering (≤10kW AC) / CT RRES Tariff + ConnectedSolutions | $0.32 – $0.37 / kWh | ⚡ 4.3 Years (Highest New England ROI) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Rocky Mountain Power Salt Lake City, Provo, Ogden, St. George, Park City (Utah) | Schedule 137 Net Billing ($0.056–$0.068/kWh Export) | $0.14 – $0.18 / kWh (Summer Tiered / TOU) | ⚡ 5.8 Years (with Wattsmart Upfront Battery Rebate) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| NV Energy Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, Carson City | NMR-405 Tier 4 Net Metering (75% Retail Credit) | $0.38 – $0.46 / kWh (Summer TOU Peak) | ⚡ 5.2 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Idaho Power Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Twin Falls, Pocatello | Export Credit Rate (ECR) Real-Time Net Billing | $0.13 – $0.17 / kWh (Summer Peak) | ⚡ 6.4 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Consolidated Edison (Con Edison) New York City (5 Boroughs) & Westchester County | NY VDER Phase One 1:1 Net Metering + CBC | $0.36 – $0.48 / kWh (Summer Supply + Delivery) | ⚡ 4.7 Years (after NY-Sun + $5,000 NY Tax Credit) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| PSEG Long Island Nassau County, Suffolk County & The Hamptons | 1:1 Retail TOU Net Metering + CBC | $0.28 – $0.39 / kWh (Rate 194 3pm–7pm Peak) | ⚡ 4.8 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| PSE&G (Public Service Electric & Gas — NJ) Newark, Jersey City, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Mercer, Camden | NJ 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering + SREC-II ($85/MWh) | $0.23 – $0.27 / kWh | ⚡ 4.9 Years (with $85/MWh NJ SREC-II Income) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Florida Power & Light (FPL) Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Pensacola | Florida Tier 1 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering (≤10 kW AC) | $0.15 – $0.18 / kWh | ⚡ 5.5 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Tampa Electric (TECO) Tampa, Hillsborough County, Brandon, Plant City, Winter Haven | Florida 1:1 Full Retail Net Metering | $0.16 – $0.19 / kWh | ⚡ 5.6 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Oncor Electric Delivery Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Frisco, Waco, Midland, Odessa | Deregulated REP Solar Buyback + Oncor Solar Rebate | $0.17 – $0.24 / kWh (Delivered REP + $0.0559/kWh TDU) | ⚡ 4.8 Years (with Oncor Solar + Battery Rebate) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| CenterPoint Energy Houston Metro, Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland, Pasadena, Galveston | Deregulated REP Solar Buyback (ERCOT Houston Zone) | $0.17 – $0.23 / kWh (Delivered REP + $0.052/kWh TDU) | ⚡ 5.1 Years + Multi-Day Hurricane Beryl-Grade Backup | Read Tariff Audit → |
| Austin Energy City of Austin & Travis County Service Territory | Value of Solar Tariff (VOST — $0.0991/kWh) | $0.14 – $0.21 / kWh (4-Tier Inclining Block Rate) | ⚡ 5.2 Years (with $2,500 Austin Energy Rebate) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| CPS Energy San Antonio & Bexar County | 1:1 Net Metering with Monthly Excess @ Avoided Cost | $0.14 – $0.17 / kWh (Summer Peak Demand) | ⚡ 5.8 Years | Read Tariff Audit → |
| ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) Chicago, Cook County, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane & Northern Illinois | Supply 1:1 Net Metering + Illinois Shines Upfront SRECs | $0.17 – $0.21 / kWh | ⚡ 3.9 Years (Illinois Shines SREC Check + ComEd Rebates) | Read Tariff Audit → |
| FirstEnergy (Ohio Edison, Illuminating Co, Met-Ed, Penelec, JCP&L) Cleveland, Akron, Toledo (OH), Reading/Erie (PA), Monmouth/Ocean (NJ) | 1:1 Retail Net Metering (PA/NJ/MD) | Generation Supply Netting (OH) | $0.18 – $0.24 / kWh | ⚡ 5.3 Years (NJ/PA/MD) / 6.1 Years (OH) | Read Tariff Audit → |
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Utility-Compliant UL 9540 Home Battery & Hybrid Inverter Systems
Turnkey solar salespeople routinely charge $3.60–$4.80/W by bundling 30% loan dealer fees and $12,000+ battery margins. Buying Tier-1 UL9540 hardware directly—either DIY or hiring a local licensed electrician ($1,500–$2,500)—cuts total cost by 50–65%.
Best Pro/DIY Value vs. NEM 3.0 & MarkupsSignature Solar / EG4
EG4 18kPV Inverter + 14.3kWh PowerPro WallMount
DIRECT HARDWARE COST~$8,200 – $9,500 (Hardware)
EST. PAYBACK4.2 – 5.5 yrs
The gold-standard UL9540 all-in-one hybrid system. Pair an 18kW PV input hybrid inverter (200A pass-through) with an indoor/outdoor IP65 14.3kWh LiFePO4 WallMount battery—saving $12,000+ vs turnkey quotes.
- 18kW PV Input / 12kW Continuous AC Output (200A Pass-Through)
- 14.3kWh LiFePO4 (8,000+ cycles @ 80% DoD)
- UL9540 & UL1741-SB Certified for Permit Approval
Best for: Whole-home 200A hybrid solar, NEM 3.0 TOU arbitrage & blackout defense
Check Price at Signature Solar →Best Plug & Play Whole-Home BackupEcoFlow Official
EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra (6kWh–30kWh Modular)
DIRECT HARDWARE COST~$4,999 – $5,799
EST. PAYBACK4.5 – 6.0 yrs
Skip the $30,000 contractor quote and 6-month utility interconnection wait. Delivers 7.2kW–21.6kW continuous 120V/240V split-phase output and 5.6kW Solar Input right out of the box—expandable up to 90kWh.
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- 6.1kWh LFP Stackable Battery (scales to 30kWh–90kWh)
- 5,600W Solar Input — Zero Roof Permit Required for Portable PV
Best for: Zero-contractor setup, peak-rate shaving, and instant blackout protection
Check Price at EcoFlow Official →Best Budget Off-Grid & Hybrid KitRenogy Solar
Renogy 48V Off-Grid & Hybrid LFP Solar Kit
DIRECT HARDWARE COST~$3,200 – $4,800
EST. PAYBACK3.5 – 4.8 yrs
Complete modular 48V architecture combining high-efficiency N-type bifacial panels, a 48V 3,500W–5,000W MPPT inverter-charger, and smart modular LiFePO4 storage at ~$1.15/W hardware cost.
- 48V High-Efficiency Bus (75% lower copper wire loss)
- Modular 48V 50Ah / 100Ah Smart LiFePO4 Battery Bank
- Complete Plug-and-Play MPPT All-in-One Controller
Best for: Cabins, workshops, garages, critical-load subpanels & budget DIYers
Explore Renogy 48V Kits →Prefer a turnkey local installer without door-to-door sales reps? Compare online cash quotes from pre-vetted local contractors or use our Second-Opinion Quote Triage.
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