Net metering in the Netherlands is done on an annual basis. In net metering, the electricity you generate but do not consume yourself is fed back into the electricity grid. This returned electricity is then offset against the electricity you take from the grid. The balance, the difference between what you have fed back and what you have taken, is calculated on an annual basis.

This means that if you generate more electricity than you consume in a given year, you will have a credit at the end of that year. This credit is then offset against any electricity taken in other parts of the year. If you have fed back more than you have taken over the year, you often receive compensation for the surplus of returned electricity.

Annual net metering is an important principle for households with solar panels because it ensures you can optimally utilize the generated energy throughout the year, even if there are monthly variations in your energy consumption and generation.