Editing Net metering (section)

== Time of use metering ==
{{Further|Smart meter}}
'''Time of use''' ('''TOU''') net metering employs a [[Smart meter|smart (electric) meter]] that is programmed to determine electricity usage any time during the day.  Time-of-use allows utility rates and charges to be assessed based on when the electricity was used (i.e., day/night and seasonal rates). Typically the generation cost of electricity is highest during the daytime peak usage period at sunset, and lowest in the middle of night.
Time of use metering is a significant issue for renewable-energy sources, since, for example, [[solar power]] systems tend to produce most energy at noon and produce little power during the daytime peak-price period (see also [[duck curve]]), and no power during the night period when price is low. California, Italy and Australia has installed so many photovoltaic cells that peak prices no longer are during the day, but are instead in the evening.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parkinson |first1=Giles |title=Solar meets more than 100 per cent of local demand in South Australia again |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-meets-more-than-100-per-cent-of-local-demand-in-south-australia-again/ |website=RenewEconomy |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211026213929/https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-meets-more-than-100-per-cent-of-local-demand-in-south-australia-again/ |archive-date=26 October 2021 |language=en-AU |date=25 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?id=3792 |title=How solar subsidies can distort the power market: the case of Italy |publisher=Europeanenergyreview.eu |access-date=2013-12-15}}</ref> TOU net metering affects the apparent cost of net metering to a utility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-12-GW-report-7.31.12.pdf |title=12,000 MW of Renewable Distributed Generation by 2020 |access-date=2013-12-15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140709052201/http://www.irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-12-GW-report-7.31.12.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>