What is a net metering solar system?

A net metering solar system is a grid-tied solar installation with a bi-directional meter. When the panels produce more power than the building uses, the surplus flows to the utility grid and is recorded as export. At billing time, exported energy is set off against imported energy, so you pay only for the net units you drew from the grid.

How does net metering work in Bangladesh?

Net metering in Bangladesh operates under the Net Metering Guideline issued in 2018 through the Power Division and SREDA, and applied by each distribution utility. The utility installs or approves a bi-directional meter that records import and export separately. Exported units are credited against imported units in the billing period, and unused credit is carried forward under the rules in force.

Who can apply for net metering in Bangladesh?

Generally, an existing customer of a distribution utility who owns the solar system, or has legal permission to install it on the premises, can apply. The system must use renewable energy and be connected through approved equipment. Exact eligibility conditions are set by the guideline and the utility, so we confirm them for your connection before design starts.

How large a net metering system can I install?

The permitted capacity is linked to your sanctioned load and to the capacity of the local distribution network, and is limited in practice by the shade-free roof area. Because the limits are set by the guideline and the utility, TOTO POWER Engineering checks them for your connection during the site survey and sizes the system accordingly.

What does a net metering solar company do?

A net metering solar company surveys the site, checks the roof structure, designs the solar array, inverter and protection system, prepares the drawings and documents for the utility application, supplies and installs the equipment, coordinates the meter change and commissioning, and provides maintenance afterwards.

Is a net metering solar system better than on-grid self-consumption?

Net metering suits buildings whose solar generation sometimes exceeds daytime use, such as homes, schools and offices with weekend closures, because surplus energy earns credit instead of being curtailed. A factory that uses all its solar output during the day may gain little from export. We compare both options with your load profile before recommending one.

Does a net metering system work during load-shedding?

A standard grid-tied net metering system shuts down when the grid fails, as an anti-islanding safety feature that protects utility workers. If you need backup during outages, a hybrid system with batteries can be designed, but the battery side must be arranged so it meets the utility's connection requirements.

Net Metering Solar System in Bangladesh

A net metering solar system in Bangladesh is a grid-connected rooftop solar plant that powers your building first and exports any surplus to the grid through a bi-directional meter. Under the government's Net Metering Guideline, exported units are set off against the units you import, so your bill is based on the net amount.

Last updated: 7 October 2026Part of: Solar systems

A net metering solar system in Bangladesh lets a home, office, school or factory produce its own electricity on the roof and still rely on the grid at night or on cloudy days. Whenever the panels generate more than the building needs, the surplus is exported and recorded, and it reduces the units you are billed for. TOTO POWER Engineering, an engineering firm operating since 2011 with offices in Dhaka and Chittagong, designs and installs net metering systems and handles the technical side of the utility application.

Diagram of a net metering solar system in Bangladesh showing PV modules, inverter, solar meter, self-consumption meter and bi-directional net meter connected to the grid

How does a net metering solar system work?

The solar panels produce direct current, which a grid-tied inverter converts into alternating current at the same voltage and frequency as the grid. The inverter feeds the building's main distribution board, so your loads use solar electricity first. At the point where the building connects to the utility, the old import-only meter is replaced by a bi-directional (net) meter that records energy in both directions.

When solar output is lower than demand, the building draws the shortfall from the grid and the meter records import.
When solar output is higher than demand, the surplus flows out to the grid and the meter records export.
At billing time, exported units are set off against imported units. If export is larger than import in a billing period, the remaining credit is handled under the carry-forward and settlement rules in the guideline.

Many installations also include a separate solar generation meter, so the owner and the utility can see how much energy the plant produces in total.

What does the Net Metering Guideline say?

Net metering in Bangladesh is governed by the Net Metering Guideline issued in 2018 under the Power Division, with the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) responsible for promoting renewable energy. The guideline sets out who may apply, the technical conditions for connection, how imported and exported energy are measured and billed, and the role of the distribution utility. Utilities apply the guideline through their own procedures and forms, and the rules have been revised over time, so the details that apply to your connection should always be confirmed with your utility at the time of application.

Who is eligible, and how large can the system be?

In general terms, the applicant must be an existing, regular customer of the distribution utility, must own the solar system or have legal permission to install it on the premises, and must use a renewable energy source. Arrears on the electricity account can hold up an application.

System size is limited in three ways. The guideline links the permitted capacity to your sanctioned load. The utility checks that the local distribution transformer and feeder can accept the export. And the roof sets a physical limit, because only shade-free, structurally sound area can carry panels. We check all three before proposing a size, so the system you are quoted is one the utility is likely to approve.

How do you apply for net metering?

The application is made to your distribution utility, such as DESCO, DPDC, BREB through its Palli Bidyut Samities, or the other distribution companies in your area. Procedures differ slightly between utilities, but the general sequence is:

Application. The customer submits the net metering application with the customer account details, ownership or permission documents and the proposed system capacity.
Technical documents. We prepare the single line diagram, equipment specifications and layout drawings that the utility asks for.
Utility review. The utility checks eligibility and network capacity and may inspect the site.
Installation. Once the proposal is accepted, the system is installed to the approved design.
Inspection and meter change. The utility inspects the installation and protection settings, then installs or approves the bi-directional meter.
Agreement and commissioning. A net metering agreement is signed and the system is energised for export.

How is a net metering system designed?

Good design starts with your electricity bills and load profile, not with the size of the roof. We look at monthly consumption, daytime and night-time demand and any planned load growth, then design an array that makes the best use of export credit without exceeding the permitted capacity.

Roof and structure. The roof is checked for shading, orientation, access, waterproofing and its ability to carry the array and wind load. For older or lightweight roofs, our structural design team checks the slab or steel frame and designs the mounting structure.
Modules and inverter. Panels and a grid-tied inverter are chosen to suit the array size, string voltages and the utility's connection requirements, including anti-islanding protection.
Protection and earthing. DC and AC isolators, surge protection devices, fuses, breakers and a dedicated earthing system are specified. Where the roof is exposed, the array is integrated with a lightning protection system designed to IEC 62305.
Metering and monitoring. The design shows the net meter, any solar generation meter, and inverter monitoring so you can track output.

How is the system installed?

Site survey, load analysis and roof assessment
System design, drawings and the utility application package
Supply and installation of the mounting structure and solar modules
Installation of the inverter, DC and AC cabling, protection and earthing
Testing: insulation resistance, polarity, earth resistance and inverter settings
Utility inspection, net meter installation and commissioning
Handover with operation guidance and documentation

What you receive

A site survey and load analysis report
System design with layout drawings and a single line diagram
Technical documents for the net metering application
Supply, installation and testing of the complete system
Coordination with the utility for inspection and meter installation
Commissioning records, equipment manuals and warranty documents
A maintenance schedule for the system

Net metering vs on-grid self-consumption vs hybrid

Net metering is one of three common ways to connect rooftop solar. The right choice depends on when you use electricity and whether you need backup power.

Feature	Net metering	On-grid self-consumption	Hybrid with batteries
Surplus energy	Exported and credited against imports	Not exported; output is limited to the load	Stored in batteries, then exported or limited
Meter	Bi-directional net meter from the utility	Existing meter, with export prevented	Depends on whether export is approved
Utility approval	Net metering application and agreement	Simpler; confirm requirements with the utility	Required if connected for export
Works in a grid outage	No	No	Yes, for backed-up loads
Best suited to	Homes, offices, schools, buildings with idle days	Factories with high, steady daytime load	Sites that need backup during load-shedding

If you are not sure export makes sense for you, see our on-grid solar system and rooftop solar system pages for the alternatives.

How is a net metering system maintained?

Grid-tied systems have few moving parts, but dust, bird droppings and air pollution reduce output quickly in Bangladesh, especially in the dry season. A sensible plan includes regular module cleaning with clean water and soft equipment, monthly checks of inverter output and alarms, periodic inspection of cables, connectors and mounting bolts, an annual thermal scan of the DC and AC connections, and an earth resistance test. Compare the generation meter with expected output: a sudden fall usually points to a fault, shading or dirt.

What does a net metering solar system cost in Bangladesh?

We do not publish a standard price, because the cost depends on the project. The main cost factors are the system capacity, the type and quality of modules and inverter, the mounting structure (flat concrete roof, metal sheet roof or elevated frame), cable lengths from roof to switchboard, protection and lightning protection requirements, any roof strengthening, utility application and metering costs, and the site location. After a survey we send a written quotation, and we can show how the expected generation compares with your current bills.

How to choose a net metering solar company in Bangladesh

When you compare net metering solar companies, look beyond the price per kilowatt. Ask whether the company will check your roof structure, whether it prepares the single line diagram and utility documents itself, which inverter protections it provides, how it earths and protects the array against lightning, and what maintenance and warranty support is included. Ask to see a completed installation and its monitoring data.

TOTO POWER Engineering combines electrical, structural and testing services in one firm, so the same team can design the system, check the roof, prepare the electrical drawings and test the installation before the utility inspects it. That reduces the risk of a rejected application or a system that underperforms. If you are comparing net metering solar system offers, send us your recent electricity bills and roof details and we will advise whether net metering suits your building.