1. What is Net Metering?

This offsetting between produced and consumed energy (known as Net-Metering) allows the consumer to fully cover his consumption of electricity or part of it, while at the same time he is given the opportunity to use the grid for indirect storage of green energy.

With the installation of a Photovoltaic (PV) system you can take advantage of the abundance solar energy to produce your own electrical energy in order to be independent and set the amount paid to bills of electivity almost to zero. In this way you will become a self consumer meaning that you will produce the energy that you consume and above all this energy will be clean and green energy.

This scheme, known as Net–Metering, allows you to use the green energy produced by the PV systems for your own consumptions and to use the grid as storage for the excess energy produced. The term “net” refers to the fact that you will be charged only for the difference between energy you consume and the energy that PV systems produces. And this refers to a 3 years cycle. In case that the energy produced by the PV systems exceeds your own consumptions, the excess solar energy is fed to the grid and it will be subtracted by the energy you derive from the grid at another time of the year (for the next 3 years).

The basic points of Net Metering in Greece are:

All energy produced by the PV systems is used for the user needs.
In case that the solar energy is not enough,
1. without batteries: the user will also use the gird to extract energy
2. with batteries: rest of the energy will be drawn from the batteries. When the energy of the batteries is not enough, the rest of the energy will be taken from the public grid.
In case that the energy produced by the PV systems exceeds the used needs,
1. without batteries: the excess energy is fed to the grid
2. with batteries: the excess energy will be used to charge the batteries and when they are fully charged, the excess energy would not be lost, but will be fed into the grid
For three years, the energy that you fed into the grid is subtracted from the energy that you got from the grid, so you will be charged only for the net amount of energy that you got from the grid.

In this way you can

You save electricity costs
You make yourself more independent from rising electricity prices
You can keep track of your electricity consumption, which gives you an overview and helps you save energy and money
You can increase the value of your property and protect the environment

If the photovoltaic produces more energy is it lost?

No! The excess energy produced in one set-off cycle is not lost, but is transferred to the next and in fact with a three-year validity.

In fact, we do not care when the Net Metering self-generating photovoltaic will produce energy, winter or summer, day or night, as the energy is offset by what we consume and any more energy produced by the photovoltaic is “stored” in a “piggy bank” and we can use it in the next three years

What is the size of the photovoltaic I should install?

The power of a photovoltaic Net Metering system (ie its size) depends on the consumption. Old electicity bills give a safe indication of this. So depending on the installation space and consumption, the power of the photovoltaic is estimated. The power limit of the photovoltaic system is the agreed power of your supply, with a maximum of 10 kW fr households and 100 kW for commercial connections

I am a tenant. Can I install photovoltaic net metering?

Of course. Tenants also have the right to install photovoltaic Net Metering, after the consent of the owner

Where can a photovoltaic net metering be installed?

A photovoltaic net metering sytem is installed in a building (roof, roof, canopy, shade, carport, facade, etc.), on the ground and even in primary sector buildings (agricultural warehouses, livestock units, etc.) /

When placed on the ground, the installation of a solar tracker (tracker) is allowed

It can even be installed in the same space as the consumption facilities it supplies or even in an adjacent space.

A photovoltaic net metering system can be installed in a place away from consumption?

Under conditions. This is called virtual Net Metering.

Virtual net metering is when at least one of the consunpions is not located in the same or adjacent area with photovoltaic system.

Currently only the following have the right to install a virtual Net Metering

legal persons under public or private law pursuing public or other public interest purposes of general or local scope;
Farmers registered in the Register of Farmers and Agricultural Holdings of L.3874 / 2010 (A ‘151) for installations of agricultural holdings as defined in L.3874 / 2010 or agricultural uses,
Energy communities only for members that are persons (not companies)
Freeway concessionaires

Is an application required for the installation of photovoltaic net metering?

Yes, but the process is relatively simple and is usually handled by the installers. An application is submitted to the local administrator of the grid HEDNO (ΔΕΔΔΗΕ) , which concludes the signing of a contract with both HEDNO and the electricity provider.

8. Can a photovoltaic net metering system be connected to more than one energy meters? What happens in apartment buildings? Can it be installed in a common area?

Typically a photovoltaic net metering system corresponds to a consumption meter. In case of more than one consumption meter (as it is in apartment buildings), then there are the following possibilities

Install a separate photovoltaic net metering system in each meter
To install 2 or more consumers located in the same building together a photovoltaic net metering system. In this case, they conclude a simple private agreement, in which they regulate the distribution of the photovoltaic investment in their consumption
If it is 5 or more VAT, then they can set up an Energy Community and install a single photovoltaic system that will supply all consumption.

In any case, it is allowed to install one or more photovoltaic net metering systems in a common or shared property. The co-owners or those who have the legal use of the common or shared space or part of it have the right to install after the concession of the use by the other co-owners. The written agreement of the co-owners is a condition. For connection to the utility supply the owners of the horizontal properties are represented by the administrator. A necessary condition is the consent of all co-owners of the building, which must be proven either by a record of unanimous decision of the general meeting or by written agreement of all co-owners of the building.

9. Can I change my electricity supplier?

Of course! Photovoltaic net metering is installed for 25 years, during which you can change provider at any time. With the new provider you sign a new contract for the remaining 25 years.

10. What happens if my consumption increases? Can the power of photovoltaic net metering be increased?

Of course! If during the 25 years your electricity consumption increases, you cab submit a new request to HEDNO to increase the power of photovoltaic net metering system and then, modify the Connection and Offsetting Contracts regarding the power of photovoltaic net metering.

Press here to learn more on What is Net Metering

Learn more on What we save with a photovoltaic net metering

TheHelleinc Association of Photovoltaic Companies has also published a complete guide that can answer all your questions.

If you have more questions or need more details you can contact us.

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The 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Net Metering