Net Metering & Virtual Net Metering

Net metering measures the difference between the electricity delivered to the customer and the electricity exported by customers’ distributed energy resource (DER) systems, which include rooftop solar panels. If a customer exports more energy to the grid than what PPL Electric delivers to that customer, the difference is reflected in the customer’s kilowatt-hour (kWh) bank on their bill. This kWh bank can be used to compensate customers monthly through virtual metering aggregation.
 
For DER customers to qualify for net metering, they must meet the following criteria:
  • Must be connected to the distribution system (12kV or lower).
  • Eligible Rate Schedules:
    • Rate Schedule RS is limited to 50kW nameplate generation.
    • Rate Schedules GS-1, GS-3 and LP-4 are limited to 3000 kW.

For more details about net-metering, please refer to our tariff: Net Metering for Renewable Customer-Generators

What is virtual meter aggregation?

Virtual metering aggregation is the aggregation of meter readings and billing for multiple meters for a host and dependent account.

Below is the list of eligibility criteria:

  • The host accounts and dependent accounts must be held by the same individual or legal entity (including parent company) receiving retail electric service from the same company.

  • The virtual meter aggregation (VMA) shall be limited to meters located on properties owned/leased by the same customer-generator within two (2) miles of the boundaries of the customer-generator’s property. Additionally, the host and dependent sites must be operated by the same customer-generator.

  • The virtual meter aggregation shall only be available for properties located within the company’s service territory.

  • Both the host account and dependent accounts must use provider of last resort (POLR) to receive the full benefit of virtual metering. If either account uses an alternate supplier, you will not receive credit for transmission/generation portion of your bill.

Virtual Metering Example

Host Account generates 1,200 kWh in excess of usage. This would be evenly divided between the three accounts, 400 kWh for each account. Please note: we can only transfer the total amount of the credit if the satellite accounts used this amount or more. If one of those satellite accounts uses less than this amount, we can only transfer the credit for the amount used for that month and the excess balance would be transferred back to the banked balance on the host account to be used the following month. 

 

Host Account generates 1200 kWh (Up to 400 kWh monetary credit for each account)
Satellite 1 Account uses 500 kWh 400 kWh would be transferred as a monetary credit leaving a 100 kWh balance to be paid
Satellite 2 Account uses 300 kWh 300 kWh would be transferred as a monetary credit
Satellite 3 Account uses 400 kWh 400 kWh would be transferred as a monetary credit


The 100 kWh remaining from satellite 2 would be transferred back to the Host account to be banked (carried over to the following month)

Net Metering Tariff: Please see page 2 under metering provisions, section 3 and also page 3 section 3 with regards to virtual metering.

Applying for Virtual Metering Aggregation

To apply for virtual metering aggregation, please download and submit the appropriate forms:

Virtual Metering Application

Net Energy Metering Rider

Applications with nameplate less than 25kW

Applications with nameplate between 25kW and less than 500kW 

Applications with nameplate 500kW and above

*Information required to complete the Net Energy Metering Rider as follows:

  • Label the host/dependent parcels and provide the tax parcel map, along with the distance between parcel boundaries. 

  • Show kW nameplate unit sizes on the host parcels.

  • Confirm that the host/dependent accounts are the same legal entity receiving retail service, and that the customer-generator has operations at both sites.