Search

Net Metering

What Is Net Metering?

Net metering is a method of measuring the energy consumed and produced by a customer’s generating facility. Net metering allows a customer to reduce the amount of energy purchased from an energy supplier and to provide a value for the excess energy (exported energy to the Grid) produced by your on-site generator.

  • The Net Metering Tariff – Rider N is available to the following types of customer generation:
    • A qualifying facility whose installed generation capacity is less than 50kW
    • All renewable resources whose installed generating capacity is less than 500kW
    • Class I renewable energy resources or hydropower facility whose installed generating capacity is less than or equal to 2,000kW

What does net metering mean?

A special net meter is installed by CL&P. The net meter will track the energy that is delivered to you by CL&P and any excess energy produced by you and received by CL&P.

The net meter measures two amounts of energy, the amount supplied by CL&P (or alternate energy supplier) and your excess production:

  • The energy supplied by CL&P when your load (consumption) exceeds your amount of generation.
    • The energy that is generated by your Generating Facility is used in your house/building first to reduce the amount of supply you receive and purchase from CL&P.
  • Excess generation is the energy received by CL&P when your generation exceeds your usage (otherwise known as your “load”).
    • When you generate more than your load, that energy is sent through the CL&P meter and is measured separately. CL&P will provide a kWh credit each month, and payment once per year for this excess generation (excess sales).

How to read your net meter:

  • The energy supplied by CL&P when your load (consumption) exceeds your amount of generation is captured on ID 04 of you net meter.
    ID 04 = Total cumulative kWh (delivered by CL&P) on the meter.
  • The energy received by CL&P when your generation exceeds your load (excess Generation) is captured on ID 10 of your net meter.
    ID 10 = Net total cumulative kWh (received by CL&P) on the meter.
  • The arrows that move left to right or right to left show direction of use and consumption. The faster the arrows move the more consumption.
    • When you see the arrow move left to right, this will be on the
      ID 04 = Total cumulative kWh (Delivered) on the meter.
    • When you see the arrow move right to left, this will be on the
      ID 10 = Net total cumulative kWh (received) on the meter.
    • There are two arrows to the left side of your meter; the arrow that goes north or south are only used to indicate that there are other alternate screens available. These alternate screens are used for testing the meter and for other CL&P meter information.