WHAT IS NET METERING?

Under net metering, excess electricity produced by the renewable energy system, but not consumed by the customer, can flow into the utility grid and is registered as a credit through the meter. If consumption of electricity exceeds what is generated by the energy system, the meter will register the amount of electricity that is consumed from the electricity grid.

O&R installs digital electric meters for net metering customers that are programmed to calculate net consumption and generation, so you won’t actually see a dial on the meter spinning forward or backwards to indicate the direction of energy to or from the electric grid.

Unlike standard electric meters that are installed for non-net metering customers, these electric meters have a number of digital displays that rotate every few seconds on the meter screen. Here are explanations for each of these displays.

Understanding Net Meter Digital Displays

Meter Number – This display shows the meter number that is associated with the net metering customer’s account, and should be identical to the numbers that are printed on the meter itself, right above the digital display screen.

Billing Register – This screen (beginning with “04″) displays the total kWh usage (net consumption and generation) registered by the meter. This is calculated within the meter, as excess kWh generated by the customer and exported to the electric grid is subtracted from the kWh that is imported to the customer from the electric grid. This number is what is used to bill or credit customers.

Segment Screen – This screen (beginning with “888″) displays every LCD segment that can possibly show up on the meter screen. Any missing segment is an indication that the meter is not properly displaying numbers, and needs to be changed. A segment screen check is conducted by our meter readers at every meter read.

Energy Flow – The arrows on the bottom left of the display screen indicate the direction in which the electricity is flowing from the meter. When the blocks and arrow are moving to the left, excess energy that is generated by the customer is being exported to the electric grid. When the blocks and arrow are moving to the right, energy is being imported into the customer’s home from the electric grid.