How Do Solar Panel Meters Work

Traditional analog meters take simple cumulative measurements of how much electricity you ve consumed.

How do solar panel meters work.

Many consumers who are thinking about going solar have heard the term net metering but aren t sure what it means what is net metering put simply net metering is a utility billing mechanism available in most states that offers a credit to residential and business customers who are making excess electricity with their solar panel systems and sending it back to the grid how does net metering work when you have a rooftop solar system it can often generate more electricity than you. Net metering also known as net energy metering or nem is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units. Furthermore the same is valid for the export of solar energy back to the grid.

This positioning may provide power at the time of the day when there is most demand. The electricity you use from your solar panels is free and you only pay if you have to fall back on the power from your supplier. Most importantly the new smart meters work with solar panels and other photovoltaic systems. Once you ve had solar panels installed they ll feed electricity into a meter in your home and then on to your electric supply.

If your solar panels are producing more electricity than your house can use it spins in the opposite direction. As a part of a plan to push the country towards being more environmental the uk government is working on an initiative to install a smart meter in every willing home and business by 2020. It typically has a dial that spins when the electrons flow past it. When coupled with solar panels a smart meter can save you a substantial amount of money on your energy bills and there s nothing sexier than savings.

Net metering is a solar incentive that requires your utility to purchase excess solar electricity that your solar panels produce at the full retail value of electricity. When your solar panels produce more electricity than you need that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. Installing a grid connect solar system. However a west facing installation may also be desirable.

For most of australia panels installation facing north is in order to take full advantage of the sun. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. If you are using electricity it spins one way. In a dual metering situation you have two separate meters that do not communicate.

They allow the consumer to see exactly how much energy they are using from their solar installations and how much they are importing from the grid. Most customers choose a roof mounted solar power system. This is your usage meter shown on the right in this photo. Your original utility meter continues to tell you how much electricity you are taking from the utility.