Our last post was about the three main types billing structures often called "Net Metering" (in a wide sense).

Some structures are more profitable than others, but not every utility company offers all three, and so it's good for homeowners to be aware of the differences, so as to know which one will best suit them.

Aside from billing structures, there are also different types of net metering "arrangements"; that is, there are different and unique ways in which home and property owners can benefit from Net Metering if they have multiple appartment or condo units, or if they pool resources together with other homeowners.

Let's look at three common net metering arrangements:

1. Virtual Net Metering

In this arrangement, multiple people share a single solar "farm" with various panels, and receive credits according to their share of the panels in the farm.

For example, if a given solar farm has 100 panels, and one of the sharers owns 30 of those panels, then they will receive 30% of the credits generated by selling the energy into the grid.

With Virtual Net Metering, the solar farm very rarely provides power directly into the homes of the users of the solar farm; instead, as soon as the power is produced, it is immediately sent into the grid in return for credits.

This is also called "community solar", and is particularly beneficial for homeowners that don't want to install panels on their own property, since they can put them in a separate (i.e. "virtual") shared location and still benefit from the credits.

And, of course, it saves homeowners from eventually having to replace their roof (to accommodate the solar panels, in case the roof is in bad shape) or clearing trees (to ensure the panels get as much sun exposure as possible, in case the trees are blocking sunlight from reaching them).

2. Aggregate Net Metering

An aggregate setup allows one customer with multiple meters on the same property (or on adjacent ones) to have a single solar panel energy system serve the entire (i.e. the "aggregated") load of all the meters on the property (or properties).

For example, if someone has three houses next to each other (each with its own electricity meter), but only one of them has solar panels installed on the roof, with Aggregate Net Metering, all three houses (not just the one with the panels) can make use of the credits accumulated by selling off the excess energy generated.

This is a useful setup for homeowners who have more than one housing unit on their property, but can only (or only want to) install panels on one unit.

However, not all utility companies provide this type of metering arrangement, and so homeowners should ask whether they do before deciding on a particular net metering program.