NET METERING POLICY – WEST BENGAL

Net metering is the mechanism that allows distribution companies monitor the user’s energy production and consumption. This mechanism also allows consumers who generate some or all of their own electricity to use that electricity anytime, instead of when it is generated. For an instance, consider a prosumer is generating and consuming the electricity and has surplus amount of energy. The surplus amount of energy is feed into the grid. There is another facility to transfer the surplus energy into the grid and use the same amount anytime. This facility is called as Banking.

The net metering policy can vary significantly from country to country and state to state. Most net metering laws involve monthly rollover of kWh credits. Net metering uses the single, and bi-directional meters and can measure the current flowing in both the directions. Net metering can be installed and solely responsible as an accounting procedure, requires no special notification or arrangement. The list of aspects considered for net metering policy are listed one by one for West Bengal.

Title – Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive

Order Dated on – Notified in March 2013

Applicability –

• Should not be less than 5 kW and Not to exceed 30% of Sanctioned Load or Contract Demand
• Consumer needs to have 3-phase power connection.
• 3-phase roof top solar power needs to be installed with capacity of 5 kW or more.
• Net-metering facility, injection from solar panel of Eligible Consumer can be adjusted with maximum 90% of the energy consumption of that consumer annually.

Eligible Consumer and Individual Plant Capacity–  

• Eligible Consumer can apply for net metering in plain paper with a copy of recent energy bill to the *concerned Divisional Manager (if contract demand below 50 KVA) / **Regional Manager (if contract demand 50 KVA and above).
• Billing will be done as per methodology given in the standard agreement for net-metering purpose using billing software built for the purpose.

Interconnection with the Grid-

• Allowed connectivity at LV or MV or 6 kV or 11 kV or any other voltage of the distribution system of the licensee as considered technically and financially suitable by the licensee.

Wheeling & Cross Subsidy surcharge – No wheeling and cross subsidy surcharge

Metering Arrangement –

• Meter for measuring the energy injected from Solar PV sources shall be provided by the licensee against applicable meter rent along with the connection of the meter up to the nearest technically suitable point in the distribution system of the licensee.
• The connectivity from the roof-top Solar PV sources up to the meter shall be at the cost and responsibility of the consumer(s) and shall be in accordance with the guidance of the licensee so that the licensee’s distribution system is not affected by any fault in the system owned by the consumer(s).