Gross Metering: full use is billed, then all solar is credited
Think of Gross Metering like this — CEB first looks at your full monthly electricity use, then gives a credit for every kWh of solar your system produced, at Rs 4.20/kWh. Here is a complete worked example for our 4-bedroom home.
The example household
Home
4-bed
family home, Mauritius
System
6 kWac
hybrid PV + 10 kWh battery
Month
June 2026
illustrative period
Tariff basis
140 + GM
domestic + gross
Meter readings & energy profile
| Meter | Previous | Current | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production (P) | 12,430 | 13,150 | 720 kWh |
| Import (I) | 7,880 | 8,120 | 240 kWh |
| Export (E) | 4,020 | 4,450 | 430 kWh |
C = P + I − E = 720 + 240 − 430 = 530 kWh consumed
Step 1 — the domestic consumption charge
First, the full 530 kWh is charged through CEB's domestic tariff blocks.
| Block | Units | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 25 | 25 | Rs 3.16 | Rs 79.00 |
| Next 25 | 25 | Rs 4.38 | Rs 109.50 |
| Next 25 | 25 | Rs 4.74 | Rs 118.50 |
| Next 25 | 25 | Rs 5.45 | Rs 136.25 |
| Next 100 | 100 | Rs 6.15 | Rs 615.00 |
| Next 50 | 50 | Rs 7.02 | Rs 351.00 |
| Next 50 | 50 | Rs 7.90 | Rs 395.00 |
| Remaining | 230 | Rs 8.77 | Rs 2,017.10 |
| Gross domestic energy charge | Rs 3,821.35 | ||
Step 2 — credit all solar, then the final bill
All 720 kWh produced is credited at Rs 4.20/kWh — regardless of how much was self-used or exported.
| Home consumption charge530 kWh across domestic blocks | Rs 3,821.35 |
| Solar generation credit720 kWh × Rs 4.20 | − Rs 3,024.00 |
| Final amount payable | Rs 797.35 |
Without solar
Rs 3,821
100% CEB benchmark
Monthly saving
Rs 3,024
≈ 79% reduction
You pay CEB
Rs 797
energy charge only
Baseline CEB cost vs your real monthly cost
The Rs 797 above is only the CEB line. To compare fairly with buying every kWh from CEB, we add the system repayment (system cost spread over 60 months) to reveal the true all-in monthly cost.
| Baseline cost — 100% from CEB530 kWh @ domestic tariff (no solar) | Rs 3,821 |
| Gross Metering CEB billafter Rs 3,024 solar credit | Rs 797 |
| Asset repaymentRs 420,000 ÷ 60 months | + Rs 7,000 |
| Actual total monthly cost (incl. repayment) | Rs 7,797 |
During the 60-month repayment the all-in figure sits above the CEB baseline because you are also buying the asset. From month 61 the Rs 7,000 repayment falls away, leaving only the Rs 797 CEB bill — a deep long-term saving. System cost is illustrative; your quote sets the real numbers.
Paying off the system over 60 months
A solar system is an upfront investment. Spreading an illustrative system cost of Rs 420,000 evenly across 60 months lets us see the true all-in monthly position while the equipment is being paid off.
Rs 7,000
Rs 420,000 ÷ 60 months
Rs 797
payable to CEB
| CEB bill under this option | Rs 797 |
| System finance (over 60 months) | + Rs 7,000 |
| All-in monthly cost | Rs 7,797 |
Versus 100% CEB (Rs 3,821/month): all-in you pay Rs 7,797 — about Rs 3,976/month more during the 60-month payoff. After month 60, the finance line falls away and the saving grows.
After month 60: the system is fully paid. The finance line disappears, so the monthly saving versus CEB increases for the remaining life of the system. Gross Metering keeps a CEB bill each month, so the all-in figure includes both the CEB charge and finance. System cost is illustrative — your actual quote determines the figures.
Gross Metering reduces the bill nicely, but the credit rate (Rs 4.20) sits below the higher domestic blocks (up to Rs 8.77), which is why the bill shrinks but does not vanish. The monthly result also shifts with your usage, production, exports and any tariff changes — so UtCS can design the system well, but cannot control every billing variable.