The “Plan for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources for Self-Consumption” was amended, by government decision, and new provisions apply from April 1, 2023. These mainly concern the categories for Net-Metering and Net-Billing.
Recently, more and more consumers are turning to renewable energy sources, changing or configuring the supply of electricity at home, with the installation of photovoltaics, in order to benefit from the many advantages offered by “green” energy – mainly these being the slowing down of environmental destruction and the reduction of household expenses for electricity.
One of the most popular and successful government plans for “green” energy is the “Plan for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources for Self-Consumption”, which, after a relevant government decision, has been amended. The changes of the new plan concern Net-Metering, Net-Billing and Virtual Net-Metering, while a new category has been added, which concerns Virtual Net-Billing.
In more detail, the changes made to the “Plan for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources for Self-Consumption” and which apply from April 1, 2023 are:
Category A – Metering Offsetting (
(strong>Net–Metering)
Dimensioning based on the consumption of the serviced property is abolished for Photovoltaic systems below 4.16 kW. Any surplus production will be carried over to the next billing period, for a total period of 36 months. This means that in the last account of the 36 months, any surplus will be zeroed out.
Category B – Netting of Accounts (Net–Net– (strong>Billing)
The sizing of the Photovoltaic system based on the consumption of the serviced property is abolished. Any surplus production will be carried over to the next billing period, for a total period of 12 months. In the last bill of the 12 months, any surplus will be zeroed out.
Category C – Virtual Netting of Metering (Virtual Net –Metering)
A new category of beneficiaries is introduced and these are the wine-making companies. Also, the limit of installed power for farmers is increased up to 100 kW (in the previous plan that ended on March 31st the limit was 20 kW).
Category D – Virtual Billing (Virtual Net–Billing)
In this new category, the total available power of the Category is 30 MW. The maximum power of each Photovoltaic system is 150kW per electricity consumption bill and per beneficiary/business. In case an energy storage system is installed, the maximum power of each Photovoltaic system can go up to 500 kW.
More information about the Plan is available on the website of the Energy Agency, https://energy.gov. cy.
Applications and deadlines
As regarding the application for the Plan, this can be done online or submitted to the local regional offices of the Distribution System Operator (DSO – EAC).
Applications will be received until December 20, 2023. In the event that the there are so many applications to fill the maximum available capacity of each category per year, this date will change.
