Net metering

Net metering is utility billing mechanism that allows solar energy system owners to exchange excess energy generated by their solar system to the national grid for credits which can then be converted to money or units from the grid. For example, when a home is net metered, and customer have PV system on their roof top which generate more electricity than their daytime usage extra electricity goes to the grid and can be used during the nighttime.  For net metering, a bi-directional power meter is interconnected with the hybrid or on-grid solar inverter. To inject and offset the extra energy into the national grid, this Solar energy system must be connected to a three-phase power connection, that’s why green meter or bi-directional meter come in three phase meter. In Pakistan through sunlight, we can generate more electricity from solar power than our needs because Pakistan is blessed with abundant sunlight. If we have installed solar power on our roof top without net metering the excessive electricity goes to waste. Net metering is not a new concept in Pakistan and can provide equal advantage at domestic and commercial level. When you generate excess amount of electricity than your needs you can sell out this excess energy and get credit or you can make money and pay your bills when the sun is not shining in winter or cloudy days. NEPRA has set a regulation for net metering in September 2015 for solar systems of up to 1MW of electricity generation.  First net metering was installed in parliament house on Feb 2016 on 1MW solar energy system. Net metering has got a positive response from business owners and it’s becoming very common. More than 268.69 megawatts of electricity have been sent to the national grid through 16066 net metering enabled solar system, said Alternate Energy Development Board.