This article focus on custom tariff rates-flat rates. Flat rates are straightforward but crucial for understanding your energy costs.
First, let's understand what is flat rate?
Flat rates are simple – you pay the same rate for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity you use.
Step 1. To add flat rate in your design, open the lead for which you want to add flat rates.
Step 2. Under 'Project info' click on 'Consumption'.
Step 3. Under 'Utility Rates', select 'Custom Tariff Rates'.
Step 4. Select the tab of 'Flat Rates'. Arka360 offers several options within flat rates:
Net Metering
Feed-in Tariff
Net Billing
Step 5. Let's first choose Net Metering.
What is Net Metering? This system credits you for the excess electricity your solar panels produce. For instance, if your panels generate more electricity than you use, the surplus is sent back to the grid, and you get a credit on your bill.
Under Net Metering, in Price/kWh enter the tariff price that the homeowner pays to import 1 unit of energy.
Enter the Annual Escalation rate, which states the annual increase in tariff price to import electricity.
Turning ON the toggle of Zero Export will effect the financial calculations. This means that whatever electricity the homeowner is generating through solar, they are utilizing it to run their appliances and the surplus electricity generated is not exported to grid. Hence, when financials will be calculated, it won't consider the calculation for exporting the energy to grid.
Turning ON the toggle of Export only will effect the financial calculations. This means that whatever electricity the homeowner is generating through solar, they are not utilizing it to run their appliances and the electricity generated is exported to grid. Hence, when financials will be calculated, it won't consider the calculation for utilization of solar produced electricity to run loads.
Step 6. Next, we have the Feed-in Tariff. This is similar to net metering, but instead of getting credits, the homeowner get paid for the extra electricity they feed back into the grid at a set rate.
Under Feed-In-Tariff, in Average Import Unit price enter the tariff price that the homeowner pays to import 1 unit of energy.
In Average Export Unit price enter the tariff price that the homeowner gets to export 1 unit of energy.
Enter the Annual Escalation rate, which states the annual increase in tariff price to import electricity.
Step 7. Finally, there's Net Billing. With this method, the home owner is billed for the total electricity usage, but any excess generation is sold back to the grid at a different rate than what they pay for usage.
Under Net Billing, in Average Import Unit price enter the tariff price that the homeowner pays to import 1 unit of energy.
In Average Export Unit price enter the tariff price that the homeowner gets to export 1 unit of energy.
Enter the Annual Escalation rate, which states the annual increase in tariff price to import electricity.
To summarize, flat rates in Arka360 helps you manage your customers energy costs with clear and simple billing structures. Whether you choose net metering, a feed-in tariff, or net billing, understanding these options will empower you to make better energy decisions for your customers.