Solar panel customers who install panels from 1 May 2024 have the option to accumulate the surplus electricity they have generated but have not consumed in the Net Billing System. It replaces the previous Net Accounting System.
Until 1 May 2024, the surplus of generated electricity that was not immediately consumed, or the electricity credit, was calculated in kilowatt-hours.
Meanwhile, in the Net Billing System, it is calculated in euros. So from now on, you will feed electricity into the grid at the price previously agreed with the electricity trader. You can use this credit in euros to cover your electricity costs, both at the site where the electricity is generated and at your other sites. For instance, you produce electricity at your country house, but you can also use it to pay for electricity at your city apartment.
The net settlement system allows you to add several objects that you own to the contract. To do this:
- select a solar panel system that suits your total self-consumption at several sites;
- all electricity contracts for all properties must be concluded in your name;
- all sites must have the same electricity trader and distribution network operator.
Net billing can also be applied to billing for system services provided by the distribution system operator, but can be waived at the request of the customer. General Terms and Conditions of the Contract (available in Latvian only) – effective as of 28 April 2024.
Net Universal Service
- A single invoice for electricity purchase and Net Billing System billing;
- A personalised Elektrum app that makes keeping track of NordPool prices simple;
- Competent advisors on electricity issues;
- The purchase price of the electricity produced by an active user shall be determined in accordance with the day-ahead hourly price of the Latvian trading area on the electricity exchange Nord Pool AS, which is published on the website of the electricity exchange, subject to a charge for the universal net settlement system service that does not exceed EUR 20 per megawatt-hour (the purchase price of the electricity produced by an active user shall not be lower than EUR 0 per megawatt-hour).
Net Service
- Fixed electricity purchase price throughout the effective period of the contract;
- A single invoice for electricity purchase and Net Billing System billing;
- Competent advisors on electricity issues.
Net Accounting System
New owners of solar panels can join the net accounting system by installing and commissioning a solar panel system by 30 April 2024.
An existing net accounting system participant will be entitled to either use this method of settlement until 28 February 2029 or to switch to net billing system services.
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Net system
If you are a net metering system customer and you are satisfied with the current accounting method, where the difference between the amount of electricity received from the grid and the amount of electricity transferred to the grid is accounted for in kWh, you do not need to do anything. Existing net accounting system customers may continue to use the existing net accounting system until 28 February 2029. However, if you intend to expand the type of use of your solar panel system and extend the value of the electricity generated by your solar panel system to your other properties, we recommend that you consider switching to the net billing system.
Within the net billing system, it is possible to use the value (in EUR) of electricity produced at one client’s site to pay the invoices of other property belonging to the same client.
The benefits of net settlement can only be used within the limits of a single distribution system operator. In particular, the distribution system operator must be the same for both the solar panel system and other electricity-consuming facilities.
Make sure that you also have a net billing system contract with your electricity trader after the commissioning of the solar panel system. If you do not have a contract, the electricity you generate and feed into the grid will be transferred to the distribution system operator for free.
The main prerequisite for using the net billing system is: a single invoice. If a solar panel owner wants to enter into a net billing system contract, they need to make sure that all the sites of the customer are connected to the same distribution system operator and trader – the customer may have several electricity products, but all contracts must be covered by one invoice.
If you need advice, please call 8400.