NET-BILLING

How it works:

With the Net-Billing method is calculated, the difference between the purchase cost of electricity (according to the tariff applicable to the consumer) imported from the grid and the compensation for the surplus electricity is injected to the grid (according to the purchase price of electricity from RES as determined by CERA for consumers contracted with EAC-Supply) for each billing period.

The electricity produced from the PV system that is located on the roof of the property or on the ground within the same block and/or common border blocks with the serviced property.

 

Who is eligible to apply for Net-Billing?

This category concerns installations on the premises of natural or legal persons (that is, commercial and industrial units, public buildings, camps, schools, agricultural and livestock units, fishing enterprises, etc.) for the purpose of producing electricity for own use. Net-Billing can also be installed in the properties of natural persons (Houses).

 

Where can such a system be installed and how much space is needed?

A PV System can be installed:

-On the roof of legally erected buildings or on the ground within the same block and/or common border blocks as the building which will serve in accordance with the conditions of the Decree of the Minister of the Interior. It is noted that for the installation of a PV system on the ground on a piece of land where there is a legally existing building, a building permit is required for the PV system in case the area of the PV panels exceeds twenty square meters (20 m2). The installation of a PV system on a plot adjacent to the plot where the building is located with its corresponding meter, will be allowed as long as the common border block does not have another electrical installation on it.

To install a PV system on an inclined roof with a power of 1kw with PV panels dimensions 1.72mx1.13m, an area of approximately 5m2 is required. Thus, for the installation of a PV system with a power of 20kw, for example, a net surface of 100m2 is required.

To install a PV system on a flat roof with a power of 1kw with PV panels dimensions 1.72mx1.13m, a clean surface of about 10m2 is required. Thus, for the installation of a PV system with a power of 20kw, for example, a clean surface of 200m2 is required.

 

What is the maximum power that can be installed?

The maximum power of each PV system that can be installed within this Category is 8 MW per electricity consumption bill. Also, the maximum power of each system cannot exceed 80% of the load of the serviced property, except in the event that a storage system or an electricity export limitation is installed in the PV system.

 

 

What should be considered for sizing the PV system?

 For the correct selection of the size of the PV system, the load of the building, its annual consumption, the demand profile of each consumer and the electricity production that the PV system is calculated to produce in the specific area are taken into account area, using simulation programs. It is very important to correctly dimension the PV system so that it meets the real needs of each building in electricity. Petrolina Solar Ltd with its many years of experience, both in the preparation of studies and in the installation of PV systems, provides its customers a free energy study adapted to the needs and demand profile of each customer with all the information they should know before the installation of the PV system.

 

What is the PV system cost and annual savings?

The cost of the PV System in this category is not fixed in all cases, since analytical study and design that meets the energy needs of each case should be preceded. Our company visits each property to record the data and measurements needed for the preparation of the offer and the study and design of the PV system without any financial burden. In the techno-economic study, the applicable network charges as determined by CERA as well as insurance costs of the PV system and its maintenance costs are taken into account. Thus, through the study, the economic results can be seen which are useful for the decision-making by the customer.

 

What is the method of settlement of electricity bills?

Bills will be settled by the respective supplier with whom the consumer has contracted, either bi-monthly or monthly (depending on the category of the consumer) for a period of 12 months.

In this category, two meters should be installed where one will record the production from the PV system and the other meter will be bi-directional and record the energy imported from the grid and the energy exported from the PV system to the grid.

In the event that the cost of the exported electricity does not exceed the cost of the imported electricity (amount of money payable by the consumer to the supplier), then the consumer will pay the difference resulting from the netting.

In the event that the cost of exported electricity exceeds the cost of imported electricity (amount of money payable by the consumer to the supplier), the excess amount of money will be credited for the next billing period.

The cost of exported electricity is determined according to the purchase price of electricity from the PV System, as determined by CERA, for consumers contracted with EAC-Supply.

In the last account, within a period of twelve months, the final liquidation of the cash surpluses will take place. The last account of the twelve-month period is considered to be the consumer's account for which a measurement was recorded in October or November, unless any relevant decision is issued by CERA for a different regulation.

In cases where the recording is done every month, the November bill will be considered as the last bill of the twelve-month period.

 

What will be the duration of the contract with the supplier?

The beneficiary will sign a 10-year Electricity Bill Settlement Agreement with their respective Supplier. The contract can be renewed after its end, according to the current legal framework.

 

What is the procedure for licensing/approval and operation of the PV system?

We undertake the entire licensing/approval process of the PV system on roofs of legal buildings and on land up to 20 square meters where there is a legally existing building. An application is made to each District Administration/Municipality to obtain the exemption from a building permit, and then we proceed with the application to the EAC as a Distribution System Operator (DSO). In order to be able to submit the application to the EAC for PV systems over 50kWp, the General License must have been secured from CERA. Upon receipt of approval from the DSO, the connection terms are issued and after they are paid by the customer, the meter offset contract form is signed and the project can proceed to implementation. Upon completion of the installation, the final stage is the inspection of the PV system with the EAC. With the success of the inspection and the issuance of the certificate of suitability by the EAC, we submit an application to the EAC for the issuance of a contract. With the signing of the contract with EAC, the PV system is start the operation.

 

Example of PV Power System of 500 Kwp-NET-Billing in a factory

 

 

Example of a 500Kwp PV system operating under the Net-Billing scheme. This PV system has a smart meter from the Fronius Company. Yellow shows the production of the PV system on a specific day and the consumption of the factory which was covered by the energy produced by the PV system. A blue continuous line shows the consumption of the factory and in gray the energy produced by the PV system that was not consumed at the same time and was channelled into the grid.