- Net metering nets export against import; you pay for the net kWh.
- Net billing pays export at a separate (usually lower) rate.
- Gross metering sells all generation at a fixed feed-in tariff.
- A bidirectional meter records both import and export.
- Caps, tariffs and settlement are set by each SERC / DISCOM — verify the current figure.
Net metering comes with its own vocabulary, and one wrong assumption can stall a connection. This glossary defines the 36 terms EPCs and homeowners meet most often, grouped by topic, each in one or two plain sentences. Where a figure moves by state, we flag it to verify.
How to use this glossary
The terms are grouped into five sets: metering and billing, application and approval, technical and safety, grid and tariff, and the bodies that set the rules. Net metering is governed by each State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and run by each DISCOM, so any cap, fee, tariff or timeline is a state figure that can change. Treat numbers here as a starting point and verify the current figure with your DISCOM or the SERC regulation.
Metering & billing terms
These terms describe the three metering models and the meters that measure your power. Getting the model right is the single most important thing a client needs to understand.
- Net metering
- A billing method where the units you export to the grid are subtracted from the units you import, and you pay only for the net difference in kWh.
- Net billing
- A billing method where the power you export is paid at a separate rate, usually lower than retail, while every unit you import is charged at the full retail tariff.
- Gross metering
- An arrangement where all the solar power you generate is sold to the DISCOM at a fixed feed-in tariff, and you buy all your consumption back at the retail rate.
- Bidirectional meter
- A meter that records electricity flowing in both directions, measuring both the units you import from the grid and the units you export to it.
- Net meter
- The common name for the bidirectional meter used in net metering. It nets your export against your import to show the units you actually owe.
- Check meter
- A second meter the DISCOM may install to cross-verify the readings of the main net meter, used to settle disputes over recorded units.
- Import
- The electricity a consumer draws from the grid. In a net-metered bill, import units are offset by export units before billing.
- Export
- The surplus solar electricity a system sends back into the grid when generation is higher than the on-site load at that moment.
Application & approval terms
These terms cover the path from applying for a connection to commissioning, including the approvals a DISCOM checks along the way.
- Feasibility
- The DISCOM's technical study to confirm the grid and distribution transformer can take the proposed solar system before it approves the connection.
- Deemed feasibility
- A rule under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 where small systems (commonly up to a stated kW limit) are treated as feasible without a separate study. Verify the current threshold with your DISCOM.
- Sanctioned load
- The maximum power, in kW or kVA, that the DISCOM has approved for a connection. A solar system size is usually tied to this figure.
- Load enhancement
- The process of raising your sanctioned load with the DISCOM, needed when a planned solar system is larger than the current sanctioned load allows.
- Commissioning
- The final step where the DISCOM tests, seals and energises the net meter, after which the system can legally export to the grid.
- Joint inspection
- A site visit, usually by the DISCOM and the EPC together, to check the installation, wiring and safety before the meter is installed and sealed.
- Empanelment
- The approval that lists an EPC as a registered vendor allowed to do solar work under a DISCOM or a government scheme.
Technical & safety terms
These terms describe the hardware and the safety rules a system must satisfy. They matter most at the SLD stage and the joint inspection.
- SLD (Single Line Diagram)
- A one-line drawing of the electrical system showing how the panels, inverter, meter and grid connect. The DISCOM needs an approved SLD for feasibility.
- Inverter
- The device that converts the DC power from solar panels into the AC power used by the grid and the home or business.
- Anti-islanding
- A safety feature that makes the inverter shut down when the grid loses power, so the system cannot feed a dead line and endanger line workers.
- DT (Distribution Transformer)
- The local transformer that steps grid voltage down for nearby connections. Net metering is limited by how much solar a single DT can safely take.
- DT loading cap
- A limit on the total solar capacity allowed on one distribution transformer, often cited around 30% but set by each state. Verify the current cap with your DISCOM.
- Earthing
- The connection of the system to the ground for safety, required to protect people and equipment from faults. The DISCOM checks it at inspection.
- Isolator
- A switch that lets you safely disconnect the solar system from the grid for maintenance or in an emergency.
- ALMM
- The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers maintained by the government, listing the solar modules eligible for many schemes and net-metering approvals.
- Zero export
- A setup, often using an export-limiting controller, that lets a system generate for self-use but prevents any power from flowing back into the grid.
Grid, tariff & settlement terms
These terms shape how much a system actually saves: how surplus is treated, how it is settled, and what charges a state may apply. Every figure here varies by state.
- Banking
- Treating surplus exported units like a deposit you can draw against later within a settlement period, instead of being paid for them at once.
- Wheeling
- Using the DISCOM's network to move electricity from where it is generated to another location, usually for a wheeling charge.
- Carry-forward
- Unused surplus export units that move from one billing period to the next, reducing future bills until they are settled.
- Settlement
- The point, monthly or annual depending on the state, when leftover surplus units are paid out or cancelled. The period and rate vary by SERC.
- Surplus
- The export units left over after netting against import across a settlement period. How surplus is treated depends on the state's rules.
- ToD / ToU tariff
- A Time-of-Day or Time-of-Use tariff that charges different rates at different hours, which changes how much your exported solar units are worth.
- Feed-in tariff
- A fixed rate paid for every unit a system generates or exports, used in gross metering and some net-billing arrangements.
- Grid-support charge
- A charge some states apply for using the grid as backup and balancing, which can reduce the net benefit of solar. Verify whether your state applies one.
Bodies & rules
Finally, these are the authorities that write and run the rules. Knowing who decides what tells you where to verify a figure or escalate a problem.
- DISCOM
- The Distribution Company that delivers electricity in an area and runs net metering on the ground, including feasibility, the agreement and the meter.
- SERC
- The State Electricity Regulatory Commission that sets the net-metering rules, caps, tariffs and settlement terms for its state.
- CEA
- The Central Electricity Authority, which sets national technical, metering and safety standards that solar systems must meet.
- CEIG / CEI
- The Chief Electrical Inspector to Government (or Electrical Inspector), the authority whose approval is needed for certain installations, often larger systems. Verify the threshold for your state.
Caption: 36 net-metering terms. Source: Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, CEA standards and MNRE scheme documents — state-specific figures should be verified with your DISCOM/SERC.
How SuryaHub helps you apply these terms
Knowing the words is one thing; running them across dozens of jobs is another. SuryaHub turns these net-metering terms into clear steps in each job — tracking feasibility, the agreement, the meter and commissioning per DISCOM, and keeping the SLD, certificates and approvals in one project file. So your team uses the right model and the right figure every time. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL, and every figure here is a scheme fact to verify, not a guarantee.
Run net metering, not jargon
See how SuryaHub tracks every net-metering step per DISCOM.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is net metering in simple terms?+
Net metering is a billing method where the units you export to the grid are subtracted from the units you import, and you pay only for the net difference in kWh. A bidirectional meter records both flows, so your solar export directly reduces your bill within the rules your DISCOM sets.
What is the difference between net metering and net billing?+
Net metering nets your exported units against your imported units in kWh, so you pay for the net difference. Net billing pays for your export at a separate rate, usually lower than retail, while charging every imported unit at the full retail tariff. Net billing is generally less favourable for the consumer.
What does anti-islanding mean?+
Anti-islanding is a safety feature that makes the inverter shut down when the grid loses power, so the solar system cannot feed a dead line. This protects line workers who may be repairing the grid. Inverters used in net metering must have anti-islanding protection to meet CEA standards.
What is banking in net metering?+
Banking in net metering means treating your surplus exported units like a deposit you can draw against later within a settlement period, instead of being paid for them right away. The banking rules, the settlement period and any charges are set by each State Electricity Regulatory Commission and vary by state.
What is a distribution transformer loading cap?+
A distribution transformer loading cap limits how much total solar capacity can be connected to one local transformer, so the grid stays safe. The figure is often cited around 30%, but each state sets its own cap. Verify the current loading cap with your DISCOM, as it changes by state and amendment.
How does SuryaHub use these net metering terms?+
SuryaHub turns these net-metering terms into clear steps in a job, tracking feasibility, the agreement, the meter and commissioning per DISCOM so nothing is missed. SuryaHub is pre-revenue, and the only real pilots are Suryantra Energy and RGESPL.
Sources & references
These definitions follow primary government usage. Net-metering caps, tariffs and settlement terms are set by each state, so verify any state-specific figure with your DISCOM and the SERC.
- Ministry of Power ↗
Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020 — defines metering models and deemed feasibility.
- Central Electricity Authority (CEA) ↗
Technical, metering and safety standards behind many of these terms.
- Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) ↗
Rooftop solar scheme terms and ALMM definitions.
Written by the SuryaHub team · reviewed against MoP, CEA & MNRE sources · updated 19 June 2026.
Method: Definitions follow the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020, CEA standards and MNRE scheme documents, re-checked every 30 days. Fee, cap and tariff terms are state-specific — verify against your DISCOM/SERC. SuryaHub is pre-revenue; only Suryantra Energy and RGESPL are real pilots.
Change log: 19 Jun 2026 — first published.