Since Alabama has already had the solar fee for years (no net metering), I chose to get an inverter with the zero output option (sometimes called "no report"). Basically I don't put power onto the grid, I don't get paid the tiny amount for selling my excess power, and I don't get charged the large flat monthly solar fee just to get paid a little bit back. Most importantly, by not putting power onto the grid I don't become what the solar regulations refer to as a power provider --- with all the red tape that comes with it. In a way I'm glad Alabama never had net metering because it kept me from falling into a trap of extra regulations, including the large solar fee I'd have to pay for the privilege of being regulated.
That's also why my solar system doesn't have to shut off whenever the grid power goes down. As far as my power utility is concerned, I'm just an average power consumer like everybody else except I pull a lot less power from them. Just like my neighbor can use his backup generator when the grid goes down, I can use my solar system when the grid goes down.
In some states they have even more regulations for people who put power onto the grid. Some require you to turn over control of your inverter to the power utility. Nope. That's not my cup of tea.
Even if you don't go solar there are a ton of energy saving things you can do. I did those and they are probably as important as the solar system. Things like replacing both my A/C and gas furnace with a variable speed heat pump (and heat strips for the few times it gets too cold here for the heat pump). I also added insulation everywhere and caulked gaps. I replaced my natural gas water heater with a hybrid water heater (all electric, but I usually have it running in efficiency mode which uses its built-in heat pump to heat the water tank). The air intake of the water heater has hot air ducted in from the attic (might as well utilize all the heat that's in my attic as free heat for the water heater). During the summer months I direct the water heater's air output (cold air) into the house's living quarters so that my home A/C (the variable speed heat pump) doesn't have to run as much (might as well put that cold air to use too). During the winter months I flip a wye lever on the output duct to direct the cold air into the attic so that my home heat pump doesn't have to work harder to warm the living quarters.
Even adding insulating curtains can help in the summer from keeping the heat out and in the winter for keeping the heat in.
I noticed a big difference in my kitchen/family room when I added them to my 6’ sliding door and a 6’ wide casement gang window.
These both face east. So, in the morning in the summer we close them until about noon. In the winter we close them when the sun goes down.