Governments across the globe are motivating and encouraging people to adopt renewable energy. As more and more people are planning to go green, there are a few terms that need to be cleared and one of them is Net Metering. Model net metering regulation for rooftop solar is a system that provides solar energy owners credits for the power added to the grid.

1. Model Net Metering For Rooftop Solar System: Challenges and Ways Forward
We are living in a time where people all over the world are becoming conscious of the
environment. Governments across the globe are motivating and encouraging people to adopt
renewable energy. As more and more people are planning to go green, there are a few terms
that need to be cleared and one of them is Net Metering.
About Net Metering
Model net metering regulation for rooftop solar is a system that provides solar energy owners
credits for the power added to the grid. In case solar panels produce surplus power, that power
is sent to the grid which can be ‘taken back’ when the solar plants are not working. When a unit
of solar energy has been ‘net metered’, the bi-directional electricity meter will run backward.
Customers are billed only for the ‘net’ energy use.
How does Net Metering Work?
The solar power systems are connected to the grid via the customers’ main service panel and
meter and, when generating more power than required at the site, return excess electricity to
the grid through the power meter, using a bi-directional meter. Since the meter works in both

2. directions – one way to measure power purchased and the other way to measure power
returned to the grid – the customer has to pay the “net” of both transactions.
Advantages
The net metering policy makes solar energy more attractive and affordable for users. It not only
brings down the energy cost but also helps in creating small power generation units. Here are
some of the advantages of net metering system: Customers get control over their electricity bills
● Value Addition to Society & Boosting Private Investment
● Saves on Expensive Batteries
● No Maintenance
● Data Capture
● Greener World
Challenges
Major challenge with net metering policy are:
● Despite many states in India adopting net metering policies, the implementation has
almost been slow and there are unreasonable constraints and limits.
● Many industries have lots of unused space on roofs that can be used for solar plants, yet
very few do so because of various issues, one of them being unfriendly net-metering
rules. The rooftop solar sector has not taken off mainly due to the poor implementation
of rooftop solar policy and regulation.
The Way Forward
While a green and clean environment is the overall advantage of solar energy, introducing
net-metering systems will make the sector grow more. The government should implement the
net-metering regulation more efficiently so that the 40 GW solar target can be reached by 2022.