'Net metering' is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers
Net metering lets a household or other consumer with a grid-connected rooftop solar system send its surplus power to the grid and offset it against the power it draws. A single two-way meter records both flows, and the consumer is billed (or credited) only for the net amount, which makes rooftop solar more attractive.
- ✓ (a) Under India's electricity consumer rules, solar energy exported by a 'prosumer' is deducted from energy imported, in kWh, through a single bidirectional meter at the point of supply.
- ✗ (b) Piped natural gas is metered by gas volume consumed; there is no export back to the network, so 'net' metering does not arise.
- ✗ (c) CNG kits in cars are about cleaner transport fuel and involve no electricity metering.
Remember · Net metering: one bidirectional meter; rooftop solar exports minus grid imports = net bill. Gross metering: generation and consumption billed separately at feed-in and retail tariffs.
Sources
- Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2021, rule 2(1)(jb) (Ministry of Power PDF, archived copy) ↗ ““net-metering” means a mechanism whereby solar energy exported to the Grid from Grid Interactive rooftop Solar Photovoltaic system of a Prosumer is deducted from energy imported from the Grid in units (kWh)”
- Government of India: India's Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy (2022) ↗ “Supportive policies are being introduced such as net metering, energy banking and waiver of duties and surcharges.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·