Solar Guerrilla

Solar Guerrilla (or the guerrilla solar movement) is a term originated by Home Power magazine and is applied to someone who uses an alternative energy source to illegally supply electricity back to a public utility grid

Private energy generation systems (such as solar panels and wind microturbines) typically require expensive battery arrays; however, by using a grid-tie inverter, surplus electric power can be fed back into a grid. By connecting the inverter output to the building's AC circuitry, the supplied electric power decreases the amount flowing through the meter, resulting in a lower utility bill. If the amount of private power supplied exceeds the amount of power consumed, the meter (suspiciously) can reverse its direction.

Net metering provides legal sanction for this process in a minority of locations around the world. However, even in these locations "Solar Guerillas" have emerged due to stringent requirements such as expensive lockable disconnects or multi-million dollar insurance policies.