# How do I count rooftop solar with net metering in Scope 2?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/rooftop-solar-net-metering-scope-2

Report Scope 2 on the units you imported from the grid, not on the net units your discom bills. Solar you generate and use on site has no Scope 2 emissions. Units you export do not cancel units you import, so never subtract exports from imports when calculating emissions.

## Read the three numbers on a net-metered bill

Your total electricity use is import plus the solar you used on site. The solar meter or inverter gives generation; self-consumed solar is generation minus export.

- Import: units drawn from the grid. This is your Scope 2 activity.
- Export: units your solar sent to the grid. These are not deducted for emissions.
- Net: import minus export, used for billing. Do not use it for Scope 2.

## Why exports cannot be netted off

Scope 2 counts emissions from the electricity you consumed from the grid. Exported solar is electricity someone else uses. The GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance does not allow avoided emissions from exports to reduce your inventory. If you want to show the benefit, report generation and exports separately in a note.

## Net metering, net billing and gross metering

Which arrangement you have depends on the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, as amended, your state regulator and your connection size. Check your agreement with the discom.

- Net metering: imports and exports are netted for billing only. Scope 2 is still on imports.
- Net billing: imports and exports are priced separately. Scope 2 is on imports.
- Gross metering: all solar goes to the grid and all your use comes from it. Scope 2 is on all units consumed, because none of your use is self-generated.

## Market-based Scope 2 and certificates

In market-based reporting, self-consumed solar counts as renewable only if you keep its attributes. If you sell renewable energy certificates for that generation, you cannot also claim it. Imports are reported with your supplier or residual factor, or with certificates you hold.

## Worked example: one month with rooftop solar

- Import 30,000 kWh, export 8,000 kWh, solar generation 20,000 kWh
- Self-consumed solar: 20,000 minus 8,000 = 12,000 kWh; total use 42,000 kWh
- Scope 2 (location-based): 30,000 x 0.710 = 21,300 kg CO2
- Wrong method on net units: 22,000 x 0.710 = 15,620 kg CO2, understated by 5,680 kg

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads the import units on an electricity bill and applies the India grid factor of 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh. Net-metered units are not treated as consumption, and kVAh lines get no factor until kWh is available. It does not read inverter or solar meter data.

- [Footprint from an electricity bill](https://senseible.earth/climate-intelligence/how-to-calculate-carbon-footprint-electricity-bills)
- [Rooftop solar economics in Pakistan](https://senseible.earth/climate-intelligence/rooftop-solar-net-metering-pakistan-factories)
- [Market vs location-based Scope 2](https://senseible.earth/climate-intelligence/scope-2-market-based-vs-location-based-msme-guide)
- [Does a green tariff make Scope 2 zero?](https://senseible.earth/answers/green-tariff-zero-scope-2)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance](https://ghgprotocol.org/scope-2-guidance), [Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and amendments, Ministry of Power](https://powermin.gov.in)

Last reviewed 2026-10-15.