Difference between revisions of "Metering and Billing Systems"

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= Billing<br> =
 
  
Organising electricity distribution requires to determine:
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= Overview =
  
*how much electricity is available  
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'''Net metering''' is a service to an electric consumer under which electric energy generated by that electric consumer from an eligible on-site generating facility and delivered to the local distribution facilities may be used to offset electric energy provided by the electric utility to the electric consumer during the applicable billing period.<ref>Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_metering and http://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/section-1241.pdf</ref>
*how it is shared and limited  
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 +
<br/>
 +
 
 +
= Billing<br/> =
 +
 
 +
<u>Organising electricity distribution requires to determine:</u>
 +
 
 +
*how much electricity is available
 +
*how it is shared and limited
 
*how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set
 
*how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set
  
<u></u>
+
<br/>
  
<u>Different Tariffsystems are practicable at different conditions:</u>  
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<u>Different Tariff systems are practicable at different conditions:</u>
  
(see also at [[Costs and Tariff Setting|Costs_and_Tariff_Setting]])  
+
(see also at [[Costs and Tariff Setting - Examples|Costs and Tariff Setting - Examples]])
  
*Flat tariffs unlimited/limited  
+
*Flat tariffs unlimited/limited
*Item based tariffs (pay per bulb/TV/Radio)  
+
*Item based tariffs (pay per bulb/TV/Radio)
 
*Pay per usage (requires metering)
 
*Pay per usage (requires metering)
  
<br>
+
<br/>
  
= Standard kWh meter  =
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= Standard kWh Meter =
  
<u>Advantages</u>  
+
<u>Advantages</u>
  
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" align="right" border="0"
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{| style="width: 200px" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="right"
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  
 
|  
[[Image:Digital meter.jpg|thumb|right]]
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[[File:Digital meter.jpg|thumb|right|124px|Digital meter]]
  
| [[Image:Standard kWh meter.jpg|thumb]]
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| [[File:Standard kWh meter.jpg|thumb|right|99px|Standard kWh meter]]
 
|}
 
|}
  
*technique is "state of the art"<br>
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*technique is "state of the art"<br/>
*billing is fair and transparent&nbsp;
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*billing is fair and transparent
*reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection  
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*reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection
*allows amount and time related tariffs&nbsp; (demand steering)&nbsp;
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*allows amount and time related tariffs (demand steering)
  
<u>Disadvantages</u>  
+
<br/>
  
*high costs (metering device)  
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<u>Disadvantages</u>
*especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range<br>
+
 
 +
*high costs (metering device)
 +
*especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range<br/>
 
*dis- and re-connection in case of late payment
 
*dis- and re-connection in case of late payment
  
<br><br>
+
<br/>
 
 
= Pre-paid system with coins or cards  =
 
  
[[Image:Pre-paid system.jpg|thumb]]
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= Pre-paid System with Coins or Cards =
  
<u>Advantages</u>  
+
[[File:Pre-paid system.jpg|thumb|right|143px|Pre-paid system]]<u>Advantages</u>
  
*fair and transparent  
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*fair and transparent
*no meter reading  
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*no meter reading
*no overdue costs  
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*no overdue costs
*no costs for dis- and re-connection  
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*no costs for dis- and re-connection
*close to “ability to pay”-variations  
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*close to “ability to pay”-variations
 
*coins less expensive than cards
 
*coins less expensive than cards
  
<u>Disadvantages</u>  
+
<u>Disadvantages</u>
  
*relatively high cost for metering device  
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*relatively high cost for metering device
*less forgery proof  
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*less forgery proof
 
*costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards
 
*costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards
  
<br>
+
<br/>
  
= Current limiter / Fuses<br> =
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= Current Limiter / Fuses<br/> =
  
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="200" align="right" border="0"
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{| style="width: 200px" class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="0" align="right"
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:Current limiter 2.jpg|100x96px|fault current breaker]]  
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| [[File:Current limiter 2.jpg|thumb|right|156px|fault current breaker|alt=fault current breaker]]
| [[Image:Current limiter 1.jpg|Current limiter / fuse; price may be < 5 USD]]
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| [[File:Current limiter 1.jpg|thumb|right|201px|Current limiter / fuse; price may be < 5 USD|alt=Current limiter / fuse; price may be < 5 USD]]
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Image:100px-Electrical Fuse (aka).jpg|45x114px|100px-Electrical Fuse (aka).jpg]]  
+
| [[File:100px-Electrical Fuse (aka).jpg|thumb|right|100px|100px-Electrical Fuse|alt=100px-Electrical Fuse (aka).jpg]]
| [[Image:180px-DIAZED fuses.jpg]]
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| [[File:180px-DIAZED fuses.jpg|thumb|right|180px|DIAZED fuses]]
 
|}
 
|}
  
<u>Advantages</u>  
+
<u>Advantages</u>
 +
 
 +
*simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose)
 +
*cheap if simple versions<br/>
 +
*no meter reading required => indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage
 +
 
 +
<br/>
 +
 
 +
<u>Disadvantages</u>
 +
 
 +
*accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)<br/>=> neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage<br/>
 +
*fault current breaker are rarely available in &lt; 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V =&gt; 220 Watt)<br/>
 +
*time of usage not considered; less fair
 +
*melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) => encourage misuse<br/>
  
*simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose
+
<br/>
*cheap if simple versions<br>
 
*no meter reading required =&gt; indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage
 
  
<u>Disadvantages</u>  
+
<br/>
  
*accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)<br>=&gt; neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage<br>
+
<br/>
*fault current breaker are rarely available in&nbsp; &lt; 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V =&gt; 220 Watt)<br>
 
*time of usage not considered; less fair
 
*melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) =&gt; encouage missuse<br>
 
  
<br><br>
+
= Flat Rate / No Metering / No Limiting<br/> =
  
= Flat rate / no metering / no limiting<br> =
+
Only in well organised small communities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair.
  
only in well organised small comunities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair.  
+
Often such settings work only until the limit of the mhp is reached and power has to be rationed.
  
Often such settings work only untill the limit of the mhp is reached and power has to be rationated.
+
<br/>
  
<u>Advantages</u>  
+
<u>Advantages</u>
  
*very cheap (no metering or limiting device)  
+
*very cheap (no metering or limiting device)
*in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage<br>
+
*in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage<br/>
 
*can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control)
 
*can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control)
  
<u>Disadvantages</u>  
+
<u>Disadvantages</u>
  
*provokes waste of electricity, no incentive for saving  
+
*provokes waste of electricity, no incentive for saving
*no load control / demand steering possible (peaks)  
+
*no load control / demand steering possible (peaks)
 
*can be unfair
 
*can be unfair
  
<br>
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<br/>
 +
 
 +
= Further Information =
 +
 
 +
*[[Metering and Billing Battery Charging Systems (BCS)|Metering and Billing Battery Charging Systems (BCS)]]<br/>
 +
*[[Net Metering|Net Metering]]<br/>
 +
*[[Net Metering in Brazil|Net Metering in Brazil]]<br/>
  
= Experience form Nepal&nbsp;: [http://www.endev.info/wiki/index.php/Nepal#Innovative_metering_.2F_load_management Innovative Metering]  =
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<br/>
  
<br>
+
= References =
  
[[Solar Main Page|⇒ Back to Solar Section]]
+
<references /><br/>
[[Hydro|⇒ Back to Hydro Section]]
 
 
  
[[Category:Hydro]] [[Category:Solar]]
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[[Category:Net_Metering]]
 +
[[Category:Digitalisation]]
 +
[[Category:Net_Metering_Brazil]]
 +
[[Category:Electricity]]
 +
[[Category:Feed-in_Tariffs]]

Latest revision as of 07:25, 3 September 2019

Overview

Net metering is a service to an electric consumer under which electric energy generated by that electric consumer from an eligible on-site generating facility and delivered to the local distribution facilities may be used to offset electric energy provided by the electric utility to the electric consumer during the applicable billing period.[1]


Billing

Organising electricity distribution requires to determine:

  • how much electricity is available
  • how it is shared and limited
  • how are the individual costs (tariffs) to be set


Different Tariff systems are practicable at different conditions:

(see also at Costs and Tariff Setting - Examples)

  • Flat tariffs unlimited/limited
  • Item based tariffs (pay per bulb/TV/Radio)
  • Pay per usage (requires metering)


Standard kWh Meter

Advantages

Digital meter
Standard kWh meter
  • technique is "state of the art"
  • billing is fair and transparent
  • reading can be uncoupled from tariff collection
  • allows amount and time related tariffs (demand steering)


Disadvantages

  • high costs (metering device)
  • especially at rural areas in dev. countries the investment cost for a meter unit are way out of range
  • dis- and re-connection in case of late payment


Pre-paid System with Coins or Cards

Pre-paid system

Advantages

  • fair and transparent
  • no meter reading
  • no overdue costs
  • no costs for dis- and re-connection
  • close to “ability to pay”-variations
  • coins less expensive than cards

Disadvantages

  • relatively high cost for metering device
  • less forgery proof
  • costs for re-collection of coins and selling system for coins/cards


Current Limiter / Fuses

fault current breaker
fault current breaker
Current limiter / fuse; price may be < 5 USD
Current limiter / fuse; price may be < 5 USD
100px-Electrical Fuse (aka).jpg
100px-Electrical Fuse
DIAZED fuses

Advantages

  • simultaneously protecting against overcurrent (actual purpose)
  • cheap if simple versions
  • no meter reading required => indirect power flat rate according to max. amperage


Disadvantages

  • accuracy of cicuit breakers as load limiter fluctuates (even items from one batch have different trigger levels)
    => neigbours with same connections may be able to use different wattage
  • fault current breaker are rarely available in < 1 Ampere range (1 A / 220 V => 220 Watt)
  • time of usage not considered; less fair
  • melting fuses are available and cheap but very easy to bridge (also temporarily) => encourage misuse




Flat Rate / No Metering / No Limiting

Only in well organised small communities a flat rate without limiting or metering will work. Consumers have to agree that everybody connected carries the same share of payment. If usage of electricity differs widely between the connected parties usually the "one tariff for all" is considered unfair.

Often such settings work only until the limit of the mhp is reached and power has to be rationed.


Advantages

  • very cheap (no metering or limiting device)
  • in rural areas of Indonesia common and accepted as long lighting is the common/only usage
  • can be combined with number of appliances or installed wattage (social control)

Disadvantages

  • provokes waste of electricity, no incentive for saving
  • no load control / demand steering possible (peaks)
  • can be unfair


Further Information


References