Since last few years, Grid of Pakistan has allowed net metering in Pakistan. After that numerous systems have been installed, most of them are on-grid systems, some hybrid grid-tight systems are also being installed. Which also works with batteries and also works with without batteries.

Content Table

• What Net Metering is?
• What is Bi-Directional Meter
• Procedure
• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Document Required for Net Metering
• Legal Procedure
• After Legal Procedure
• Step 4
• Conclusion

First of all it is important to know what net metering is, then I will tell you the process of getting net metering done and the complications that can occur in the whole system.

What Net Metering is?

Net metering is a process in which we can sell out the extra energy produced by solar back to the environment.There are two types of systems in Pakistan, a hybrid system and an on-grid system consists of a net metering system with a 99-percent system. Also known as a bi-directional meter system, gross metering, and net metering.

Procedure

So I would like to summarize it and tell you that net metering can be done even with hybrid system. Most of the inverters nowadays come with infinity inverters in 10 kW ratings and many smaller inverters. There are inverters that do net metering and are also high-battery, which means they also run on batteries.

Step 1

If you want to do net metering with your own system, the first thing you need to do is to have a solar system installed.  As WAPDA’s first requirement is that your solar system must be installed.

• Without installation of solar system, Nepra neither generates license nor approves your application.
• Many people think that our house is under construction or net metering takes three to four months to process, so can we give it an application already?
• The team will first come to your home and inspect your system.

Step 2

• It is necessary that you have a solar system installed, for this AEDB has selected a few independent vendors.
• Or any solar company can go and enroll itself with AEDB [Alternative Energy Development Board].
• There are certain conditions of AEDB which the company fulfills above these conditions.
• It means that those companies are certified by AEDB. So for net metering it is necessary that you install your solar system from an AEDB certified company.

Step 3

This is simply the certified company that is installing your system.  Single Line Diagram of Quotation System The units produced by the system and there is an agreement between you and Nepra. Details of some of these and their terms and conditions.

Documents

• It contains the details of the panels installed in your system and the inverter installed in your system and their detailed specifications are also attached.
• According to the criteria approved by them, your solar panels should come as per the instructions.
• Apply at Wapda office You cannot take this application, the authorized vendor from whom you have installed the solar system can apply this application.

Survey

A manual application goes to the office of Wapda. From there a survey team comes to your home to check whether the solar system you have installed is as per the certified parameters of Wapda, Nepra and EDB. Has it happened or not? They will definitely check that your house has proper earthing.

Points

• How to do the earthing,
• how to install the circuit breaker for net metering
• and how to install the lightning resistor,
• then for that you can definitely go to the circuit breaker.

After Survey

Once this survey is conducted, then the application is transferred from here. Nepra head office is in Islamabad. It takes about twelve to fifteen days at least, but in most cases, this time takes more than one month. Nepra will generate a license for you. So back your application comes to your respective city. You will get the license from Nepra, one copy will come to your home and one copy will come to your vendor or the solar company you have purchased from. There will be a verification of this application once at the office of Wapda in your respective area.

Step 4

The meter will be provided. If the meter number is provided, the meter will go off. The Amity Department has a department for meter installation. From here, there is a process of about ten to fifteen days. The meter installation team will come to your house and install your meter.

It may take up to three months. When the meter installation team will come to your house, the team will remove the existing three-phase meter of your house, against which you have filed a NEPRA application. They will take it off and put a new meter on you.

 Bidirectional meter

The new meter is a green meter, also called a bidirectional meter. The demand notice for the new meter is that you have submitted the super fee, which means you have to submit the fee again. You will not get a refund, nor will you get any refund.

Strange Logic Questions

Now here comes a question that if a person wants to install a new system and has built a new house, then can he apply for the green meter? It is a very strange logic, a strange system, which I have not understood even to this day, that it does not give a fast-hand green meter to any house or industry.

First, you have to install a face meter and they remove the old meter and replace it with a green meter, which means that the meter that is installed for the first time in any building will be a normal meter and then a green meter.

After that you have to check all the readings yourself whether your meter is working properly or not and it takes about two months for the meter to change the readings of the new meter and the new meter. After two months to update the details in Wapda’s computer records.

Conclusion

So this is the whole process through which you can get net metering done at your home. The purpose of making this Blog was that you guys should know that What is the process and what are the complications involved?