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Net Billing: What It Is
Net Billing is the new model of real-time energy offsetting for photovoltaic systems, now being adopted in Greece.
Simply put: the energy produced by your photovoltaic system and consumed immediately covers some or all of your needs — any surplus is fed into the grid and sold.
On your regular bill: you are not charged for the energy you consume directly, while any surplus appears as a credit or income — if there is a positive balance.Source: solar.com.gr
Simply put: the energy produced by your photovoltaic system and consumed immediately covers some or all of your needs — any surplus is fed into the grid and sold.
On your regular bill: you are not charged for the energy you consume directly, while any surplus appears as a credit or income — if there is a positive balance.Source: solar.com.gr
Note that Net Billing has officially replaced the former Net Metering model for new installations in Greece.Source: energy-projects.gr
Why Net Billing — Advantages
✅ More effective energy offsetting & financial benefit
- Energy consumed immediately is put to full use — it is neither lost nor undervalued.
- Surplus energy is “converted” into real income or a credit — it is sold to the grid at a price that usually reflects the current wholesale price per kWh.
- If the system is paired with storage (batteries), self-consumption can potentially be maximized (especially in the evening) and dependence on the grid significantly reduced. Source: solar.com.gr
✅ Flexibility & transparency
- Net Billing “measures” production and consumption in real time — the offsets are more realistic and are not based on kilowatt-hour “credits” held for an indefinite period.
- For installations with significant production and a large energy surplus, the benefit is more predictable and financially advantageous to the user.Source: blog.solarclue.com
✅ Green & sustainable solution
- Net Billing encourages the production and consumption of clean, renewable energy — reducing dependence on conventional sources.
- Combined with storage or smart load management, it can help reduce CO₂ emissions and increase consumers’ energy independence.Source: climasystem.gr
What Changed with Net Metering — What We Lose
Net Metering — which many self-generation systems were previously based on — had its own advantages, but also limitations:
- With Net Metering, surplus energy was “credited” as kilowatt-hours for future consumption, not as money.Source: kisenergy.grThis meant that the benefit depended on whether/when we consumed electricity again — and there was a risk of “losing” credits if we did not consume enough within the specified time period (e.g. 3 years).
- In addition, the system did not take into account the actual “useful” energy prices (e.g. wholesale prices, peak prices), so it could lead to distortions — particularly if a large proportion of consumers used Net Metering.Source: helapco.gr
With the change to the legal/regulatory framework, Net Metering for new installations is being abolished in Greece — making Net Billing the “preferred” solution. Source: energy-projects.gr
Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider with Net Billing
- 🔸 Variable sale prices — The value of the surplus depends on the wholesale market price per kWh at the time it is fed into the grid. Therefore, if the price is low, the financial benefit may be smaller.
- 🔸 Requires proper planning + potential storage — To maximize self-consumption and the benefit, the system should ideally be paired with batteries or smart load management.
- 🔸 Dependence on regulations & and market prices — Because compensation is based on the wholesale price and not a “fixed price per kilowatt-hour,” market fluctuations may affect the return on investment.
- 🔸 Does not provide full independence — Unlike a fully off-grid photovoltaic system with batteries, Net Billing does not guarantee that you will never need the grid. It is more of an “offsetting + selling” model, not complete disconnection.Source: climasystem.gr
What Should I Choose — And When Is Each Option Worthwhile?
The “best” choice depends mainly on:
- Your consumption habits (when you use electricity, how much you use, and whether you have evening/daytime peaks)
- The size and output of your photovoltaic system
- Whether you plan to install batteries or rely exclusively on the grid
- Your goal: simply reducing bills, maximizing self-consumption, and/or payback & income from surplus
In brief:
- If you want steady, predictable self-consumption and have the option of batteries → Net Billing + storage is probably the best choice.
- If you want a simple and affordable solution with low installation costs and are a “consistent” consumer during production hours → Net Billing without a battery may be enough — with the benefit depending on the market.
- If you had Net-Metering in the past, you should reassess your solution — Net-Billing is now the standard for new installations.
Why Solar Home is the right choice
With many years of experience in the photovoltaics sector, Solar Home can help you make the most of the benefits of Net-Billing.
- We undertake a comprehensive assessment to calculate your actual needs (production – consumption).
- We provide upgraded photovoltaic systems, with the option of expansion and energy storage, for maximum self-consumption and financial benefits.
- We offer ongoing support and advice, so you can manage your installation properly and achieve a quick payback.
