Question regarding where power goes

[CodeQuandary]

Oh, but some number of electrons absolutely do sneak quietly from the solar panels through the meter, and then some other electrons take their place sneaking back. Which is why I think Goldigger's way of putting it is more apt: It doesn't matter where the individual electrons go, we only really care about net power flow. Speaking in absolutes ("no electricity passes through the meter. Period.") isn't helpful.

From a practical point of view, there's also the case where total production exceeds consumption, but consumption isn't balanced across phases. In that case there may be power flow in both directions through the meter on different phases.

I already mentioned that there is net energy flow through the meter with asynchronous (and I should have added "or unbalanced") production and consumption.
For the purposes of understanding the system, I think it's fine to say no electrons flow through the meter in synchronous and balanced production and consumption: the only reason we're connected to the grid in that moment is because of anticipated non-synchronous and/or unbalanced production and consumption.
That is, in practice production and consumption are essentially never exactly synchronous and balanced: it's the only reason we need batteries at all (see what I did there? I just called the grid a battery. Oh the indignity.).