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FAQ: Is it possible to have my electric energy meter go in the opposite way to decrease the amount of energy on the display?

Answer: No, it is not possible. Such attempts are even illegal. The consumption of the electric energy and even the production of the electric energy are always considered as a flow of the energy. Most of the electric meters do not distinguish the direction of the flow of the energy. This means they always measure the increment (addition) of the value, even if the energy flows in the opposite direction back to the grid.

Some of the old style meters with a rotating disc used to have a latch (ratchet) to prevent from reversed rotation of the disc. Modern digital or semi digital meters measure the energy flow in absolute values by each phase. It is not possible to reduce the value on the display. The energy is always measured as a plus (increasing) value.

Some utility companies started to install so called „four quadrant meters“ that can analyze the direction of the flow and record the amount of the energy in the reversed direction (sent to the grid). However the main consumption value is always calculated in the absolute value.

Note: the production and the consumption must be on the same phase. If the production and consumption are on different phases, they are considered as two values and added together.

Warning:  we strictly warn against any manipulations of the electricity meters instilled by the utility companies. The manipulation and the connections to the electric grid without proper metering are illegal. The GridFree idea is supporting only the legal reduction of the consumption of the electric energy by means of partial self generation of the energy used at the place.