Can the NEM Agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Confirm utilities accept e-signed agreements and whether they require additional attestations or notarization.

Does the agreement require notarization or witnesses?

Most utilities do not require notarization for interconnection forms, but some states or utility tariffs may. Check the utility's interconnection guide; if a notary is required, consider remote online notarization where permitted.

Who must sign the agreement for a commercial customer?

An authorized representative with capacity to bind the legal entity should sign. For corporations, this is typically an officer or an authorized manager; attach a resolution or power of attorney if required.

What if system specs change after signing?

Notify the utility and submit an amended interconnection form or technical update. Material changes to capacity or protective devices can require re-evaluation or new approvals.

How are exported kilowatt-hours credited?

Crediting depends on the utility tariff: common methods include retail rate netting, time-of-use adjustments, or separate export tariffs. The agreement should specify the credit calculation method.

What documents should accompany the agreement?

Include a single-line diagram, equipment data sheets, proof of insurance, installer certification, and any applicable permits to prevent review delays.

Electronic Signature
Templates
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Net Energy Metering Agreement

Net Energy Metering Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

What a Net Energy Metering Agreement Is and where it fits

A Net Energy Metering Agreement (NEM Agreement) is a formal contract between a customer-generator and their electric utility that sets the terms for interconnection, metering, and crediting of exported solar or distributed generation. It records the system owner, installation details, metering arrangement, billing credit method, and responsibilities for operation and maintenance. The agreement may be a standard utility form or a state-specific interconnection contract and is required before a system can operate and receive net metering credits under applicable tariff rules.

Why the Net Energy Metering Agreement matters

The NEM Agreement documents how exported generation is measured and credited, protecting both the customer and the utility. It clarifies billing treatment, liability allocation, and meter ownership, and it is typically required to activate net metering credits and comply with interconnection procedures.

Who completes a Net Energy Metering Agreement

Each signer should have authority to bind their organization or household and access to system specifications to complete technical exhibits.

Residential customers seeking to offset on-site electricity with rooftop solar or small wind installations.
Commercial and nonprofit building owners installing solar to receive billing credits.
Solar developers and installers preparing interconnection paperwork and technical attachments.

Key parts of a professional Net Energy Metering Agreement

A complete NEM Agreement includes identification, technical specifications, interconnection terms, metering and billing language, indemnity and insurance obligations, and signature blocks for all parties.

Parties

Legal names and contact details for the customer-generator, installer (if applicable), and the utility that will accept exported energy.

System Details

Installed capacity, inverter type, single‑line diagram reference, and expected commissioning date with any equipment serial numbers or model numbers noted.

Metering & Credits

Method of metering, netting period (monthly/annual), credit calculation, and billing cycle adjustments for exported energy.

Interconnection Terms

Permission to connect, required protective devices, testing requirements, conditions for disconnection, and utility inspection rights.

Liability & Insurance

Indemnity allocation, required insurance limits, and responsibilities for maintenance and damages caused by the generation equipment.

Signatures

Signature blocks, authorized signer designations, effective date, and any witness or notarization lines if required by the utility or state.

Essential data elements at a glance

Account Number: Utility account ID

Meter Number: Existing meter ID

System Size: kW/kVA values

Installer: Company name

Equipment Model: Inverter/array model

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Step-by-step: completing the Net Energy Metering Agreement

Follow this sequence to gather materials, complete the form, and submit to the utility for review and activation.

01

Gather Documents: Collect utility bill, site plan, and equipment specifications.
02

Complete Form: Fill identification, system, and metering sections.
03

Attach Exhibits: Add single-line diagram, proof of insurance, and installer certificate.
04

Submit: Send to utility via their required channel for review.

Customizing and submitting the agreement online

Set up a digital workflow that includes conditional fields for technical attachments and automatic routing to utility and customer contacts.

Field	Configuration
System Size Field	Numeric with kW suffix
Attachment Field	Required when capacity exceeds threshold
Signer Order	Customer then utility
Notifications	Email on each completed step

Where to file and what happens next

After signing, route the completed agreement and attachments to the utility interconnection unit; the utility reviews, may inspect, and then activates net metering.

Utility Portal: Primary submission channel for most utilities
Email Submission: Accepted by some utilities with secure attachments
In-Person Delivery: Occasional option for smaller utilities
Third-Party Platform: Installers may submit on customer behalf

Digital signing, eSubmission, and platform needs

Ensure the platform can produce an audit trail and export a notarizable PDF if your utility or state requires notarization or witnessed signatures.

File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: Works with Google Drive, Box, NetSuite
Compliance: Supports ESIGN and UETA

Typical timelines and processing expectations

Review and activation timelines differ by utility; plan for application intake, technical review, possible inspection, and final meter change or reconfiguration.

Application Intake:

Utility acknowledges receipt within business days

Technical Review:

Utility performs engineering review; timing varies

Inspection:

On-site inspection may be scheduled before activation

Meter Upgrade:

Meter replacement or reprogramming if required

Activation:

Net metering credits start after final sign-off

Common mistakes that delay net metering

Submitting incomplete technical exhibits or missing single-line diagrams and equipment specs.
Mismatched account or legal names between the agreement and utility billing records.
Failing to list authorized signer or provide proof of authorization for corporate accounts.
Uploading illegible attachments or using incorrect file formats for utility portals.

Risks and contractual consequences to note

Credit Loss: Delayed or denied credits

Interconnection Denial: Utility may refuse connection

Backbilling: Retroactive billing adjustments possible

Liability Exposure: Customer may assume repair costs

Insurance Gaps: Insufficient coverage can be costly

Contract Breach: Termination or penalties

eSignature vendor comparison for executing NEM Agreements

Select a provider that supports secure PDF signing, audit trails, and any required compliance addenda; signNow appears first in the vendor column below.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-world examples of NEM Agreement use

These examples show how organizations streamlined interconnection and documentation when deploying distributed generation.

Optica Ventures

Optica prepared unified agreement packets for multiple residential installs to simplify utility review.

Installer consolidated single-line diagrams.
The result reduced back-and-forth with the utility and accelerated credit activation across sites, improving predictability for project cash flows and customer billing.

Xerox NetSuite Ops

Xerox used standardized agreement templates across sites to capture consistent system metadata.

Templates included insurer and liability clauses.
Standardization reduced administrative variance, improved auditability for corporate solar installations, and simplified reconciliations with utility billing departments.

Frequently asked questions about Net Energy Metering Agreements

Answers to common legal, technical, and process questions when preparing or signing an NEM Agreement.

Need help? Contact support

Can the NEM Agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Confirm utilities accept e-signed agreements and whether they require additional attestations or notarization.
Does the agreement require notarization or witnesses?
Most utilities do not require notarization for interconnection forms, but some states or utility tariffs may. Check the utility's interconnection guide; if a notary is required, consider remote online notarization where permitted.
Who must sign the agreement for a commercial customer?
An authorized representative with capacity to bind the legal entity should sign. For corporations, this is typically an officer or an authorized manager; attach a resolution or power of attorney if required.
What if system specs change after signing?
Notify the utility and submit an amended interconnection form or technical update. Material changes to capacity or protective devices can require re-evaluation or new approvals.
How are exported kilowatt-hours credited?
Crediting depends on the utility tariff: common methods include retail rate netting, time-of-use adjustments, or separate export tariffs. The agreement should specify the credit calculation method.
What documents should accompany the agreement?
Include a single-line diagram, equipment data sheets, proof of insurance, installer certification, and any applicable permits to prevent review delays.

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