- They aren't transmitting it, which has a cost. They aren't providing value add like the power company.

- They could pay wholesale if they figured out a way to get the electricity from the power plant to their house, which is the value add that the power company provides.

- They have a choice in how much they buy, by turning things on and off. The power company, being a regulated utility, does not have that choice. They must buy as much as is demanded.

Magic faeries don't hand out rights-of-way, substations, 150kv switchyards, transformers, capacitors, conductors, pole provisioning, pylons, transfer switches, and the maintenance of all of the above for free.

Net metering is stealing from those who provide the distribution infrastructure, full stop.

I buy my car from company A and my gasoline from company B with clear prices for A and B.

Why is the scenario where the car company provides my gasoline and then bills for both gasoline and the car in an opaque "single bill" manner, where I can never make out which is which preferable for the consumer?

Net metering is a subsidy for upper middle class folks who own their houses and want solar panels because it's hip and cool.

The costs get directly passed onto the other consumers. The poor and middle class.

People who own solar panels become producers under net-metering. They are just like any other firm in the market. The prices are wonky because they are regulated by law instead of free competition, but the prices of all utilities are wonky because they are regulated by law instead of free competition.