FAQs
Good question. Net metering can reduce your NB Power bill if the output of your generation unit is used to offset your electricity consumption from NB Power. Your bill will reflect the difference between the total amount of your electricity consumption and the electricity your generation unit produces over the billing period. This is the “net amount” of electricity.
Your monthly service charge, rental charges (if applicable) and HST applied to the total amount of electricity delivered each month.
No, net metering is meant to help our customers offset costs and make use of renewable energy sources. Any excess electricity not used during the current billing period will appear as a credit and will be carried forward to subsequent months up to March of each year. After March, all credits are reduced to zero.
Enrolling in net metering does not change your rate class. The rate is the exact same as our regular commercial or residential customers.
Return on investment will vary depending on the type of renewable energy technology used. We recommend that you research the costs of the renewable energy source you are interested in to determine the feasibility of connecting the unit to NB Power's distribution system. Remember that, since any remaining credits are reduced to zero by March of each year, it is important not to oversize a generation unit.
Your generation unit can only be used to offset ONE metering point. (some exceptions do apply for farmers)
Prior to enrolling in net metering, we recommend that you first research the system you want to install. The installation must meet the requirements of the Canadian Electrical Code and the New Brunswick Electrical Installation and Inspection Act, which requires the installation to be done by a licensed electrician, and that all electrical equipment must bear a certification logo acceptable in the Province of New Brunswick.
Please visit the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety, Technical Inspection Services website for more details. Once you've made the decision to proceed, you apply to NB Power for approval. All applications must be accompanied by two copies of a one-line diagram and site location map and manufacturer's technical specifications for the inverter. Prior to installation of the net meter, a licensed electrician will need to provide NB Power with an electrical wiring permit. Approval is also required from the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety, Technical Inspection Services.
A net metering agreement must be signed prior to the installation of the net meter.
Visit the Enroll section to find out more.
You will need a special meter to participate in this program - a bi-directional meter that measures incoming electricity on one register and outgoing electricity on the other. NB Power will replace your existing meter and install the bi-directional meter. You will be responsible for providing a phone line to the meter and for paying the standard connection fees.
Additional NB Power costs include a service call fee for changing your meter. Costs to purchase and install equipment will be separate and are your responsibility.
Your monthly invoice will be sent out as usual. Slight changes will be made to clearly show the actual electricity use and the net electricity use – offset by your renewable energy unit. In addition, a separate monthly statement providing further details will be sent by email or regular mail.
We are legislated to charge HST on the total amount of electricity delivered and not the net amount of electricity billed. The separate monthly statement will provide the HST calculations.
In the event of a power interruption to our distribution system, a grid-dependent inverter approved for net metering cannot operate – it automatically shuts down during power outages. During an outage, your unit must be disconnected from the NB Power distribution system to ensure the safety of NB Power's crews who are working to repair the interruption.
If you wish to operate your generation unit during an NB Power outage, it must have special transfer and isolating capabilities installed.
The customer must abide by the Terms and Conditions submitted with your application. These forms need to be initialized by the customer(s) to indicate their understanding of the terms for the duration of their participation in the program.
The Terms and Conditions can be cancelled with 30 days notice to NB Power. However, if you cancel within 24 months and wish to participate at a later date, there will be additional set-up costs for Net Metering.
The Net Metering Program does not offer incentives for the cost of installing your solar system. The Total Home Energy Savings Program offers incentives for efficiency upgrades. Eligible upgrades range from insulation, the installation of high efficiency central heating systems to solar roof panels and more. To become a participant, you must apply for the program and have an initial home energy evaluation through a certified energy advisor prior to any upgrade work being started.
Please refer to the Total Home Energy Savings Program web page for details, how the program works, what upgrades are eligible and registration information.
