If you have solar panels in Las Vegas and still get a power bill, you’re not alone. Most homeowners see banked credits, peak charges, and a service fee, and wonder why their solar panel system isn’t wiping out the balance.
Below is a breakdown of how solar net metering works under NMR-405, how Time-of-Use pricing changes your savings, and how to read your NV Energy statement. All the math is included, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Net Metering Explained for Las Vegas Solar Customers
When you install solar panels and connect to the electric grid, your net metering system tracks the difference between energy produced and electricity consumed. When your solar energy systems generate more electricity than your home uses, excess power flows back through a bi-directional electric meter.
You earn net metering credits measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), and those credits offset future electricity bills. Think of the grid as a virtual battery where your extra solar power covers nighttime or off-peak usage.
The “NMR-405” Reality: It’s Not 1-for-1 Anymore
Under Nevada’s Assembly Bill 405, the net metering rate structure set by the Nevada Legislature is tiered and decreases as installed capacity hits 80 MW benchmarks. Tier 1 started at 95%, closing in August 2018. Tier 2 dropped to 88%, closing June 2019. Tier 3 fell to 81%, closing in June 2020. All new residential solar installations now fall into Tier 4 at 75% of the retail rate, with no capacity cap. This rate stays at 75% unless modified by legislative action.
Your credit rate is locked for 20 years at the installation address. The system size limit is 25 kW, and net metering customers pay the same service charge as non-solar customers.
That 25% gap is why many homeowners still see charges even when their solar panels generate enough excess electricity annually. Nevada’s program is closer to net billing than true 1-for-1 net metering.
The Math Behind the 75% Rule
Say your solar panel system exports 500 kWh in a billing period. You earn credits at 75% of the retail rate. When you later import 500 kWh, you pay 100%. You still owe the missing 25%.
Slightly oversizing your solar system is a common solar industry strategy to cover that exchange gap and keep energy bills low. Understanding how solar energy ratings work helps you choose the right system size.
Time-of-Use Peak Hours in Las Vegas
Net metering credits are only half the story. Time-of-Use (TOU) rates create the biggest impact on summer electricity bills.
The summer peak window runs June 1 through September 30, 6:01 PM to 9:00 PM. During those three hours, electricity costs 3x to 4x more than off-peak rates while solar production drops as the sun sets and air conditioning demand peaks.
This is the trap. You export cheap daytime energy and buy back expensive peak-hour power. Without banked credits or energy storage, electricity charges spike fast.
How to Read Your NV Energy Solar Bill
Net Metering Credits
Rolls over 20 yearsYour stored kWh credits from excess generation. You build them in winter and spring and use them during the summer. Unlike some states where credits expire annually, NV Energy NMR-405 credits roll over indefinitely month-to-month for the entire 20-year term of your agreement.
This allows you to build a massive “summer buffer” during the mild spring months.
Energy Delivered vs. Received
KWHD − KWHR = Net Usage“Delivered” (KWHD) is power you pulled from the electricity grid. “Received” (KWHR) is excess solar power sent back.
The difference determines your net usage and whether you owe or carry a credit into the next billing cycle.
TOU Energy Charges
Peak: 6:01 PM – 9:00 PMYour bill shows electricity usage broken into peak, mid-peak, and off-peak periods. Peak usage during summer TOU hours (6:01 PM – 9:00 PM) is the most expensive line item for solar customers.
Banked Credits
Build spring, spend summerYour rollover balance of excess credits from previous months. Stored renewable energy value you build during mild weather and spend down in July and August.
Basic Service Charge
$18.00 / month fixedThis is one of the fixed costs on your bill for grid access. For standard Single-Family Residential Service (Schedule RS), the Basic Service Charge is $18.00 per month (effective October 1, 2025). This fee must be paid monthly regardless of your solar production.
Demand Charges Starting April 2026
~+$12/mo for solar customersStarting April 1, 2026, NV Energy is breaking out a daily demand charge from the existing usage rate. This is not a new fee. It reflects the maximum impact your usage has on nearby grid infrastructure, measured by your highest 15-minute period each day at roughly $0.14 per kW.
The average Southern Nevada customer peaks around 3.5 kW, about $0.49 per day or $15 to $20 per month. Your per-kWh rate will decrease to offset this, so most customers will see little change.
However, NV Energy estimates rooftop solar customers will see an increase of about $12 per month under the new structure. Non-solar customers, by comparison, may see a slight decrease. Solar bills still remain well below non-solar bills overall.
Talk to Our Solar TeamHow to Lower Your Solar Bill Under TOU Rates
Shift usage to daylight hours. Run your pool pump, dishwasher, laundry, and EV charging before 6 PM. Using your own electricity directly avoids the 25% exchange gap entirely.
Build credits in spring. Your solar panels produce more energy in mild months. Those kWh credits become your summer buffer against peak TOU charges.
Consider energy storage. A battery lets you store solar power for peak hours instead of buying from the grid at premium rates. Pairing storage with net metering maximizes your solar investment year-round.
Avoid demand spikes. Stagger large loads throughout the day to prevent higher demand charges when the 2026 rule takes effect.
Get a Solar Bill Analysis
If your system was sold as “zero bill” and you’re still paying every summer, something is off. The cause could be system sizing, usage patterns, or TOU timing.
Let Bob’s Repair perform a Solar Bill Audit. We’ll review your production, TOU usage, and net metering credits to see whether your system is performing as promised or show you what to change.
