SOLAR NET METERING
When you have a solar array on your own roof, the amount of electricity produced by the solar array is constantly measured by a production meter. Your normal electric meter is still tracking what you use day to day, and that usage is subtracted from what you produced. The utility will determine monthly what you owe (if anything). This called Net Metering. If you are producing more electricity than you are using, that credit can roll over for as many as twelve months to count against future electric bills.
GROUP NET METERING
When a group of residents who are all customers of the same utility own a solar array together, they can share the electricity produced and have their electric bills credited for this production. The group must tell the utility exactly what percentage of the array is owned by each of their customers, so the solar electricity produced will be credited to each account properly. This solar array must be located in the utilities service area, and may need to be relatively close to the high voltage 3-phase power lines that are the backbone of the grid.