Net metering in photovoltaics is the new energy step to eliminate electricity costs for households and businesses.

ΝΕΤ METERING

Net metering in photovoltaics is the new energy step to eliminate electricity costs for households and businesses. Net-metering allows consumers to cover a significant part of their own consumption, while enabling them to use the grid for indirect storage of green energy.

Net metering allows residential and commercial customers to use the electricity they produce themselves. In each metering cycle, the energy produced by photovoltaic systems is offset against the energy consumed, resulting in an economic benefit for the producer from energy savings, as well as consequent benefits for the environment and society.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Self-production of energy refers to the installation of a small photovoltaic production unit in residential or commercial-industrial buildings in order to be consumed by the appliances of the same building. The energy, in short, is not sold, but is intended to reduce demand from the provider and thus reduce bills. Law 4203/2013 is not limited to installations on buildings, but generally concerns "self-producer installations", i.e. the system can be installed on the ground but also utility spaces such as pergolas, garages, gardens and even adjacent undeveloped land can be used.

This practice has been used for many years in foreign countries. In Greece, according to the new ministerial decision, it supports the installation of self-production systems through a program for the installation of photovoltaic systems by self-producers to cover their own needs, with the application of energy offsetting and its utilization in order to reduce the energy costs of electricity consumers. Self-producers are expected to gain significant economic benefits, while at the same time promoting the key objective of the YPEKA's policy on energy security, efficiency and energy saving.

The prices of PV systems have shown a rapid decline in the last period of time, making the institution of net - metering, economically and energy efficient. In addition, in our country, the current cost of electricity and the current supply and installation prices of photovoltaic systems make net metering an advantageous option for both residential and commercial and industrial consumption.

ELECTRICITY BILLING

Self-producers will pay ETMEP only for the total electricity they absorb from the Grid or the System. The energy offset will be made annually in the self-generator's electricity bill.

Based on the above and the current DEI tariffs for various categories of consumers,

• the offsetting will be, for the domestic consumer, approximately 0.185 €/kWh
• (including VAT), and for the commercial consumer at 0.120-0.165 €/kWh.

ADVANTAGES - REASONS FOR INVESTING IN NETMETERING:

• The technology is now mature enough to allow efficient operation of energy offsetting systems.
• Rapidly falling prices of PV systems
• No batteries are required and so there are low installation costs, and therefore low maintenance costs.
• No batteries or generators are required to store electricity. The grid itself plays this role.
• The purchase cost (0.19-0.23 €/kWh) exceeds since 2012 the selling price of elec
• Consumer prices in Greece are 100% regulated resulting in very frequent tariff increases.
• Increase the penetration of APE, creating new jobs without any financial burden on the Electricity Market Operator LAGIE.
• Helping to relieve congestion on the network, particularly during peak hours in the summer months.
• The cost of electricity fluctuates, most of which is detrimental to the end consumer.With net metering you don't care if the electricity increases in the future, because the offset is energy-based and not accounting-based.
• There is potential to increase its electricity consumption to meet new needs.
• It enables the autoproducer to better control energy consumption, while giving him/her environmental awareness.
• The increase in the selling price of electricity is no longer an enemy, but an ally. The higher the price per kWh, the faster the year of payback of the capital invested in an energy system comes.
• Commercial, craft and industrial enterprises are reducing the cost of the electricity they consume and are gradually recovering, regaining their lost competitiveness.
• Consumption is close to production, reducing losses in the cables.
• Producers will pay ETMEAR (formerly RES fee) only for the total electricity they absorb from the Grid or the System.
• There is no monetary transaction with the State, since the energy produced is not sold for a monetary consideration. There is therefore no revenue that can be taxed, nor any sale price that can later be reduced.
• Increase in the energy class of the property due to energy production from APE.
• Netmetering is a simple and economically viable mechanism that encourages the use of Renewable Energy Sources and contributes to local, national and international development.
• It encourages private investment by contributing to the development of the local and national economy.

NetMetering on residential roofs

Net-metering allows consumers to cover a significant part of their own consumption, while enabling them to use the grid for indirect storage of green energy.

The term "net" is derived from the fact that the consumer's charge is the difference between the energy consumed and the energy produced over a certain period of time. According to the Ministerial Decision, this period is one year. In practice, the consumer is exempted from charges unrelated to electricity, such as municipal taxes, fees and NERC.

Net-metering on commercial and industrial roofs

Net-metering can be applied to both large and very large consumptions required by businesses. Office buildings, commercial, craft and industrial buildings can invest in an energy system that will greatly reduce the cost of electricity. Economies of scale and the tax framework (such as VAT recovery and accounting depreciation) make these investments even more attractive as the payback period is reduced even further. Applications of net-metering can also be found in the primary production sector as agricultural facilities consume large amounts of electricity (greenhouses, water pumps, etc.).The cost of electricity per unit of product or service produced is reduced, and the company can increase its competitiveness.