Behind-the-meter

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 3 October 2026

Behind-the-meter means on the customer’s side of the meter. A rooftop solar system, a home battery or an EV charger wired into the switchboard is behind the meter. The grid sits on the other side.

Why it matters

Energy generated behind the meter can power the property directly. Only the surplus, or the shortfall, crosses the meter. That is why self-consumption is the main source of value for most solar customers: every kilowatt hour used on site avoids buying one from the grid.

In practice

The term shapes the rules. Small systems that create STCs are behind the meter, and the scheme rewards them with certificates for the energy they will produce. Larger grid-connected power stations are front-of-meter, where the generator sells into the market and earns LGCs. See LGC and mid-scale solar.

Batteries are the same. A home battery behind the meter can store solar and be dispatched into a VPP, which is a requirement of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. See VPP.

Worked example

A home uses 18 kWh a day. A 6.6 kW array produces 28 kWh on a sunny day. Behind the meter, 12 kWh is used directly, 6 kWh charges a battery and 10 kWh is exported across the meter. The meter records only the export and the grid purchases. The customer’s net bill reflects that.

Common confusion

Behind-the-meter is not the same as off-grid. A behind-the-meter system is still connected to the grid. And it is separate from how the meter itself counts power, whether net or gross. See net vs gross metering. The connection point is identified by the NMI.

See STC trading, battery STCs and the glossary.