When in 2016, in Poland, a system of discounts was introduced for prosumers settling accounts with the network operator for servicing resources obtained from private photovoltaic micro-installations, probably no one expected that it would cause a real boom in photovoltaics. The number of installations that has been growing at a dizzying pace in recent years is, of course, a positive phenomenon, but the fact that most Prosumers are able to use only about 1/5 of the energy produced on an ongoing basis causes more and more frequent problems with voltage. Therefore, changes to the Act have been developed which actually eliminate the possibility of using the discount system for private micro-installations submitted for connection after March 31, 2022. From April 1, 2022, new users are billed according to the new system (not counting the transitional period lasting until the end of June), i.e. net-billing, which, however, has caused mixed feelings from the very beginning. Although it is intended to motivate people to increase their consumption and eliminate the tendency to oversize installations, it actually has a real impact on the profitability of the investment.
Net-billing – is the new system beneficial for owners of PV micro-installations?
Unlike the discount system, in which the Prosumer actually does not bear additional costs related to handling the surplus energy produced, net-billing introduces the principle of value-based settlement. The owner of a photovoltaic micro-installation resells the surplus energy produced to the operator at wholesale prices, but when the resources are collected, he buys electricity at retail prices, including: all tariffs. Overall, this reduces savings on an annual basis and makes it much more difficult to predict exactly how long it will take for the investment to pay off. Nevertheless, even with less profitable net-billing, setting up your own photovoltaic micro-installation, especially one equipped with its own energy storage, can still generate significant savings, which is a tangible benefit considering the constantly rising electricity costs.