"Does my state have net metering" is the wrong question. The real question is what rate you get credited, and that varies enormously.
Retail-rate net metering is the best case, and it's not universal
Under true retail-rate net metering, exported solar energy is credited at the same rate you'd pay to buy it — meaning a kWh sent to the grid at noon is worth exactly as much as a kWh drawn back at night. Many states still offer this, but a growing number have shifted to lower "avoided cost" or tiered export rates for at least some customers, which changes the payback math significantly.
Export percentage isn't just a technicality
Some states credit 100% of exported energy at the net metering rate; others credit a lower percentage, with the rest compensated at a different (usually lower) rate. This single number can shift a system's effective payback period by years — check your specific state's policy on the state pages rather than assuming your neighbor's state's rules apply to you.
Caps and program closures happen
Several states have caps on total net metering program enrollment, or have closed traditional net metering to new applicants entirely in favor of newer tariff structures — Hawaii and parts of California are notable examples. If you're in a state with an active transition, timing your installation before a program closes can matter more than almost any other single decision.
What this means for your payback estimate
A national average payback figure can be meaningfully wrong for your specific state once export rate, percentage, and program status are factored in. Use the net metering calculator with your state's actual policy, then run the full number through the solar payback calculator rather than relying on a generic estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my net metering rate if my state changes the policy later?
Most states grandfather existing solar customers under the net metering terms in place when their system was installed, for a set number of years — new customers after a policy change get the new terms, not the old ones.
Is retail-rate net metering always better than a tiered system?
Generally yes for system economics, since it credits exported energy at full value — but some tiered or time-of-use export structures can still work out well if your usage pattern lines up with when export rates are highest.