OPINION: end of net metering – goodbye to green energy? |
The Federal Government has made a final decision to abolish the Net Metering system for solar installers and replace it with a gross billing policy. For the implementation of this decision, power regulator, NEPRA, has formally issued draft rules.
Deviating from established procedures, NEPRA has not announced any date for a public hearing this time. It is quite possible that after ten years, Pakistan will be the first country to end the net metering after such a short period while neighbouring countries are not only promoting net metering but, in some cases, even allowing neighbours to sell excess electricity to each other.
What is net metering? Under net metering, if a home, shop, or office had a solar system installed, any excess electricity generated during the day was fed back into the grid. When needed, the consumer could draw the same number of units from the grid.
Imported (consumed) and exported (supplied to the grid) electricity units were adjusted at the same rate. This is why millions of consumers, who could no longer bear the ever-increasing electricity prices, were increasingly attracted towards installing solar systems.
Why did the ministry of energy recommend........