Configuring net metering

IEE supports net metering by using formula channels to calculate the net consumption, stored channels to store the results of the formula, and meter programs to define the meters eligible for net billing.

IEE supports billing validation of net metered channels by using billing determinants to calculate the total consumption and maximum demand for the net channel.

This process is typically configured by an IEE administrator.

  1. Create one or more named formulas for the net metering equations. The following formulas are valid formulas for net metering:

    Closed$sp:1 - $sp:2

    Defines the difference between the interval values in a service point channel from those of another channel on the same service point.

    Closed$sp:1 + $sp:2

    Defines the sum of the interval values in a service point channel to those of another channel on the same service point.

    Closed@pos( $sp:1 - $sp:2 )

    The difference of the interval values in a service point channel from those of another channel on the same service point. Where any individual resulting interval is less than 0, the value must be set to 0. (This is possible if one of the channels contains negative values).

    Closed@pos( $sp:1 + $sp:2 )

    The sum of the interval values in a service point channel to those of another channel on the same service point. Where any individual resulting interval is less than 0, the value must be set to 0. (This is possible if one of the channels contains negative values).

    Letters in formulas must be lower case. The formulas will not work if you use upper case (capital) letters. For more information about how to create a named formula, see Named formulas.

    Tip: To improve system performance, you can create multiple named formulas and assign each one to a subset of service points. Each named formula can contain the same calculation. IEE creates a separate task to process each named formula, but these tasks will run concurrently if multiple task services are available.

  2. Create a meter program that defines the criteria for the meters eligible for net metering. Meters must be members of this program to quality for net metering. The program must include the formula channels for the calculations as well as a stored formula channel to store the results of the formula after the net aggregation task runs on the intervals. This stored formula channel is also referred to as the "net" channel.

    For more information about creating meter programs, see Application data. You can also find more information in the IEE Program-Based Configuration XML API Guide.

  3. Configure the net metering task using the High Volume Reading Aggregation task template. For more information, see High volume reading aggregation.

  4. Place the net metering task on a recurring schedule, to run after the readings import task. Net metering calculations must complete before IEE runs the daily reading summary, the like day algorithm, and the demand response event participation evaluation. For more information, see Recurring schedules overview.

  5. If your implementation includes billing validation, configure the net metering rates for billing validation. Billing validation is custom to each utility. For more information, contact your Itron representative.