There is a bit of a difference in the definition of "net metering".  I have always thought of it as a 2-way connection to the grid, not necessarily meaning you get paid the same going out as charged for coming in.  You and Johnny seem to understand net metering implies charges are the same both ways.  Difference in definition.

However the idea that because I use less grid energy and this causes there to be unused capacity that the non solar panel customers need to pay for is exactly what I was referring to in my comments about the facility or meter charge.

Yes, the grid does need to be designed with enough generating capacity for that peak moment at noon on a hot day usually in July when everyone has their a/c on, etc. plus a bit of a safety factor. Agreed.  However the amortized cost of that capacity plus all the transformers, wires, repairmen, office staff, trucks, poles etc. needs to be in the FACILITY CHARGE portion of everyone's electric bill because its there whether it's being used or not, and whether you are in Florida or Minnesota, whether I have solar panels or not.  This is what a FACILITY CHARGE is meant to be.  Everyone shares the charge for the privilege of having power available in front of your house or business.

These FACILITY CHARGES should NOT be buried in the kwhr charge portion of our electric bills!

BTW, when are solar panels producing the most power? = often on that same hot sunny summer peak day the entire grid is designed for and therefore likely will eventually REDUCE the peak that the rest of the grid must be designed to supply...

In our manufacturing business, the largest part of our electric bill was based on our peak demand over the last month, even if it happen only momentarily.  This was a pain because our entire monthly bill was largely determined by a couple employees accidentally starting two high starting draw machines at the same time. The actual energy charge was a much smaller portion of out plant's electric bill. 

This was annoying...but fair. Because our electric supplier needed to have the generating capacity, the wires, poles, transformers, etc required to supply that one, almost instantaneous, startup current flow without a voltage drop.

This is basically what needs to change in the residential electrical billing of utilities. The true facility charges must be quantified and separated from the true energy charges or some one is always going to be subsidizing someone else who is in Florida or who has solar panels. Our REC tells me they are about there with a meter charge for most of their rural customers of around $40./mo.   What is your minimum bill per month?  Many are only under $20./month.  This could ultimately be determined by the maximum draw per month, or over the past year, etc as is done for businesses.  It means for most folks the facility charge would go up significantly but the kwhr energy charge, where the facilities are now often buried, would go down...

Doesn't a similar situation as you describe hold true for folks who switch from incandescent to LED light bulbs?? Are folks with incandescent bulbs subsidizing the folks with LEDs?  Are folks who insulate their houses more and use less electric heat being subsidized by those who don't insulate?  With the facilities charges buried in the kwhr/energy charge I think you can say yes - folks who use less grid energy for some reason (LEDs, insulation, solar panels, etc) are in fact being subsidized by those who don't do those things.  The only fair answer is to separate real facilities charges from the energy charges for everyone. Don't just curse folks with solar panels.

The fact is national electrical demand is leveling off. Separating facilities charges from energy charges would point that out. The whole system would become more efficient, distributed, more reliable. Occurrences such as in Germany where solar and wind occasionally produce enough power to run the whole country, if for a short time, are no big deal, just throttle everything down that can be throttled down and sell what's left for whatever you can get for it in eastern Europe. The facilities would be paid for by everyone who is still tied to the grid. Fuel consumption goes down. Electricity will be sold for the variable costs of producing it.

It's coming eventually. Change is difficult but inevitable.