Value of Solar (VOS) is a proposed technique to measure and value the output of customer-owned distributed solar generation (referred to as distributed photovoltaic, or “distributed PV”) to a utility for the purpose of either 1) establishing a VOS tariff used compensating distributed PV or 2) assessing whether a compensation method such as net metering is appropriate. When used as a VOS tariff, utilities would be required to compensate or credit distributed PV owners at rates that reflect benefits that distributed PV may offer to the utility. This could

include such straightforward benefits as avoided energy costs, but could also include social or environmental benefits, such as renewable energy credits (RECs), which represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects. FULL WHITE PAPER