New PV owners can install a net energy meter any time

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 28, 2012

~~Question: We are seriously thinking about installing a photovoltaic system and would appreciate clarification from Hawaiian Electric Co. about net energy metering. If I understand correctly, the surplus energy that your system generates in one month will be credited toward the next month. This continues until the anniversary of your net metering hookup. In your anniversary month your account is zeroed out, and you start all over for the next year. If this is correct, does it matter when you start net metering? For example, if you start in September, the account zeroes out the following September, and you may not have time to build up excess energy to carry through the winter months. Also, what is the average time it takes HECO to set up net metering once a photovoltaic system has been hooked up?
Answer: You understand the net energy metering process well, according to HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg, but he says it really doesn’t matter when during the year you begin the process.
~~

Question: We are seriously thinking about installing a photovoltaic system and would appreciate clarification from Hawaiian Electric Co. about net energy metering. If I understand correctly, the surplus energy that your system generates in one month will be credited toward the next month. This continues until the anniversary of your net metering hookup. In your anniversary month your account is zeroed out, and you start all over for the next year. If this is correct, does it matter when you start net metering? For example, if you start in September, the account zeroes out the following September, and you may not have time to build up excess energy to carry through the winter months. Also, what is the average time it takes HECO to set up net metering once a photovoltaic system has been hooked up?

Answer: You understand the net energy metering process well, according to HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg, but he says it really doesn’t matter when during the year you begin the process. Login for more...