What Types Of Electricity Meters Are Used In Solar Panel System?

 

Regardless of the solar PV system, there is in each household a power meter, which measures the consumption per house or apartment. If a solar panel system is available, then further types of electricity meters come together there.

Feed-in meter

 

 

In the case of a feed-in tariff model and to know how many kilowatts the solar power is feeding into the utility grid, a counter called a Feed-in meter is required.

The Feed-in meter is often owned by the grid system operator. For this, it gets a part payment from the PV plant operator, who can also procure the Feed-in meter itself.

The Feed-in meter should be equipped with an inbuilt backstop. This device can be installed either in the existing consumption meter cabinet or its own cabinet.

Feed-in meter must be calibrated at regular intervals.

Power meter (consumption meter)

 

 

This is present at all times. It also has an inbuilt backstop. Power meter are always owned by the grid system operator.

Bi-directional meter

 

 

Bi-directional meter is a combination of a Feed-in meter and a power meter in one device. They are always owned by the grid system operator, who charges for this a commitment charge and usually a second measuring fee too.

Bi-directional meter is handy and can replace the power meter.

The fees for feed-in, power and bi-directional meters are different from grid operator to other.

Tip: In any case, it should be ensured that the meter balances through all phases.

PV meter

 

 

The PV meter measures the generated solar power from a solar PV system. In contrast to a feed-in meter, which measures only the part of feeding solar power. A PV meter should be installed to determine the self-consumed part of the solar power.

This is also for tax reasons because one should pay sales tax for the amount of self-consumed solar power.

The PV meter always remains the property of the plant operator.

Net-Meter

 

 

Net-Metering is a billing mechanism, which allows the plant operators to feed electricity they do not use back into the grid and credits solar PV system owners for what they add to the grid.

For this, the plant operator requires a digital meter called Net-Meter, which runs in both directions to accommodate electricity generated at its solar plant.