An energy ministry amendment to a bill introduced for the establishment of energy communities, promising decentralized, locally generated energy solutions, will broaden the use of net metering by permitting all RES technologies to take part.

The amendment, complying with EU directives, will bolster the roles of consumers by broadening net metering applications and allowing self-production, energy storage, consumption and trade.

Net metering enables electricity consumers who generate their own power from an eligible on-site facility and deliver it to local distribution facilities to offset the electric energy provided by the utility during an applicable billing period.

Until now, net metering has been restricted to photovoltaic and small wind turbine applications. Other RES technologies, including geothermal production, were barred from utilizing the self-production system.

Terms and prerequisites will be set by a ministerial decision.