metering solutions to avoid being charged / billed while on generator power

[emmjea001]

I have a 10 house development that we want to have a central meter room, and from then downstream it will be the clients network. The problem I am having is how to provide for a central backup generator but avoid this running through the meters

I also want to ensure that end users (houses) that install PV can grid tie and enjoy feeding power back into the grid (sell it)

The basic attached sketch shows the scheme.

The only way I can see it happening with conventional meters is to have a dedicated change over for each feed, instead of a single bulk one, which is not desirable, is fiddly, and more expensive.

Are there smart meters that will allow this? If so they would need two main functionalities:

1. To have an input for when mains supply is available and when it is, to charge energy use, and when it is not, then not to meter power going through the meters?
2. To allow NET metering?

Many thanks for your input

 

[waross]

I have done that several times.
One installation we used a transfer switch for each of 4 meters/loads.
For another customer with a small apartment building, the owner didn't want to spend the money for automatic transfer switches.
We had an automatic transfer switch to control the generator and provide an automatic switch-over for the building services.
Each apartment had a local manual transfer switch.
We ran a feeder from the generator throughout the building to each manual transfer switch.
The third instance was an upscale home with automatic standby power. The owner also owned the house next door which was rented out. We ran one circuit across to the other house to provide emergency lighting during power failures. Then we found out that the occupant had hired an electrician to rewire the emergency circuit to steal power for his refrigerator. No more emergency power for him.
No utility will give permission to disable a revenue meter. The example above is only one of several reasons.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[davidbeach]

It also depends on the applicable laws and utility rules. Where I am, only the utility company can sell metered power. So, if your alternate source is on the utility side of the meters, you would not be permitted to use it when the utility wasn't available.

 

[tinfoil]

Check with your local utility before you spend any money.

There are likely specific rules in place that prevent or facilitate what you want to do.