A ministerial decision introducing net metering was signed late yesterday by Environment, Energy & Climate Change Deputy Minister Makis Papageorgiou, making self-production for renewable energy source (RES) producers using photovoltaic systems an appealing prospect.
Through net metering, electricity consumers who generate their own power from an eligible on-site facility and deliver it to local distribution facilities will be able to offset the electric energy provided by the utility during an applicable billing period.
Self-producers can expect to achieve considerable savings in electricity costs, while the ministry’s objectives of bolstering energy security and boosting energy efficiency will also be served through the net metering system.
The ministerial decision makes net metering available for medium and low-voltage self-production. Net metering will be exclusively available for self-producers using photovoltaic facilities. A capacity upper limit of 20 KW has been imposed, except for Crete, where the limit is 50 KW. Installation of photovoltaic systems will be available to all interested parties at spots permitted by the decision’s regulations. Beyond rooftops, other options include gardens and adjacent plots of land.
Self-producers will be subject to an Emission Reduction Tariff (ETMEAR) only for the amounts of electricity drawn from the grid.
Total self-production and consumption by each producer will be calculated on an annual basis to determine net amounts.
Environment, Energy & Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis noted that the ministerial decision for net metering paved the way for household energy savings and increased RES utilization, while new jobs will be created in the RES sector, the minister added.
The minister also pointed out that major energy savings can be achieved in farming, allowing for a more competitive agricultural sector. The country’s tourism industry also stands to benefit from the prospect of lower energy costs as hoteliers can ultilize net metering for lower electricity costs, Maniatis noted. The health sector, too, will gain through reduced operating costs and improved services at hospitals and clinics, he pointed out.