Net metering policy was mandated by State of Ohio that all electric utilities offer some form of net metering to their customers. This policy is key for expediting return on investment for solar, as it offsets needing to purchase electricity, and can instead rely on credits your system produces year around.
When your solar system is sized correctly, your solar panels will generate an excess of electricity beyond your immediate consumption requirements. Ohio's net metering regulations offer you the opportunity to trade this surplus energy back to the grid, earning credits that offset your utility bill. In instances where your energy demand surpasses your solar panel output, for example the summer, you can utilize these earned credits rather than purchasing electricity directly from your utility provider, say in the winter when your system is producing less.