Defined term
Behind-the-meter generation
Behind-the-meter generation is electricity generation located on the customer side of the utility billing meter or other defined customer-grid boundary.
Also known as BTM generation
grid · Concept code GS-CONCEPT-060 · Last verified August 20, 2026
Evidence through 2021-02-01 · 0 sources have no source-event date
Content modified 2026-08-20
Definition and boundaries
Definition
Behind-the-meter generation is electricity generation located on the customer side of the utility billing meter or other defined customer-grid boundary.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; meter and tariff definitions vary
Definition claim verification: Verified August 20, 2026
In plain language
For Behind-the-meter generation, the controlling utility tariff, interconnection document, meter arrangement, and jurisdiction matter more than a generic national description.
What it is not
It is not necessarily off-grid, non-export, customer-owned, or invisible to all utility meters.
Decision context
Why it matters
Meter arrangement, separate production metering, site load, export, tariff, ownership, and program rules determine how the generation appears in billing and system data.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; meter and tariff definitions vary
Decision-context claim verification: Verified August 20, 2026
Information boundary
This page provides general educational context, not a site design, production guarantee, utility determination, contract interpretation, legal opinion, tax conclusion, or individualized financial advice. Verify property, equipment, utility, jurisdiction, program, and agreement details before acting.
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Primary topic: Grid
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Primary sources
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory: A Comprehensive Review of Distributed Photovoltaic Compensation Mechanisms
Revision NREL/TP-7A40-78058 · Source event as of February 1, 2021 · Ontology accessed August 7, 2026 · Ontology verified August 7, 2026
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: FERC Order No. 2222: Fact Sheet
Revision Published 2020-09-28 · Source event as of September 28, 2020 · Ontology accessed August 20, 2026 · Ontology verified August 20, 2026