When does net metering end?

Under the new phase-out proposal, net metering ends on 1 January 2031.

Are solar panels still worth it?

Solar panels still pay off, even once net metering ends. You generate your own solar energy, and by running appliances during the day, such as the dishwasher and the washing machine, you buy less power from your supplier. That cuts your energy costs every month.

Phasing out the net metering scheme: all you need to know

White house with black solar panels on the roof, seen from the air with a garden in the foreground

Under the current net metering scheme solar panels are very attractive, because you are paid the same rate for the power you feed back. The government plans to phase the scheme out, and that phase-out has now been postponed to 2025. Since we get a lot of questions about it, Ruben explains in this blog what is known so far.

Update: in February 2024 the Dutch Senate voted against the bill to start phasing out net metering on 1 January. A new plan is now on the table to end the scheme in 2027. Read more in the blog "the end of the net metering scheme in January 2027".

What exactly is net metering?

In short, net metering means the power you generate yourself is set off against the power you buy from your energy supplier. So the surplus you generate in summer is balanced against the extra you buy in winter. That is favourable, and it makes your system pay for itself faster. Read more in our blog about net metering and feed-in payments.

How does net metering work after 2023?

The government intends to phase net metering out. The bill was first meant to take effect on 1 January 2023. It is now clear that the phase-out has been postponed to 2025. Both chambers of parliament are debating several questions, among them a limit on how much power households may feed back, and the level of the feed-in payment.

Net metering from 2025

The phase-out has been postponed to 2025. Under the new bill the scheme would be wound down step by step from 1 January 2025. The exact rules are not yet known, but the plans point to a faster phase-out: each year only a set percentage may be netted off. The table below shows the percentages. Net metering ends altogether in 2031, after which households can no longer net anything off.

Table of percentages per year

Year	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031
Phase-out, old proposal (2023)	100%	91%	82%	73%	64%	55%	46%	37%	28%	0%
Phase-out, new proposal (2025)	100%	100%	100%	64%	64%	55%	46%	37%	28%	0%

Why net metering is being abolished

The government wants to end net metering to encourage households to use less power and generate more, for a better balance. Today there are already moments when power cannot be fed back because the grid is full. Ending net metering makes room. And the more you generate and use yourself, the less you have to buy from your supplier.

Buying solar panels before 2025

As things stand, net metering will not be wound down before 2025, so until the end of 2024 you still benefit from the current scheme. It is also worth knowing that the rules from 2025 are not final and may still change. We would advise you to ask your energy supplier and to keep an eye on the government website for the latest rules.

Rows of solar panels on mounting frames on a flat roof with bitumen roofing

Are solar panels still worth buying after 2025?

Generating solar energy remains a good investment. You can still use the power you generate, which means you buy less from your supplier and your energy costs are lower. The only drawback is that your system may take a little longer to pay for itself.

Installer from Dijkman Zonne-energie carrying a black solar panel across a roof with panels already installed

Questions and answers

When does net metering end?

Under the new phase-out proposal, net metering ends on 1 January 2031.
Are solar panels still worth it?

Solar panels still pay off, even once net metering ends. You generate your own solar energy, and by running appliances during the day, such as the dishwasher and the washing machine, you buy less power from your supplier. That cuts your energy costs every month.
What is net metering?

Net metering means the power you generate yourself is set off against the power you buy from your energy supplier.