The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), responsible for regulating electricity in Pakistan, is not ready to approve Net Metering Tariff despite repeated requests to their officials.
Net metering allows a customer to supply power to the grid when not using the generated electricity from solar system. It is implemented in many countries for quite some time. The amount of electricity that is used and supplied is tracked by reverse meter and the customer is billed for the ‘net’ metered amount of energy consumed from grid.
Among the policy options available to encourage the use of small renewable energy systems, net metering is one of the most appealing and is widely used by different countries. A key part of these systems seems to be the greater sense of fairness to utility customers who are generating their own electricity and getting benefit in billing by adjusting the unit in selling and purchasing by the net meter and also supporting their electric supplier companies.
The N League government took steps and started many energy projects to control electricity shortage from Pakistan which are in execution phase but the government should also eliminate duty on solar system components like batteries, inverters and charge controllers to support solar energy production in Pakistan. The immediate implementation of Net Metering is the only and shortest way to control power outage in the country with least investment on the grid tied with the solar system. Implementation of this system and duty free imports of parts will encourage people to participate in renewable energy generation as Pakistan has the best potential of solar radiation in maximum areas of the country.
Currently, there are net metering laws or regulations in many of the countries including India and Bangladesh. It is a low-cost, easily defined method to motivate consumers to invest in renewable energy sector for the domestic, industrial and commercial use and can reduce the pressure of shortage of electricity to the electric supplier companies by installing independent solar energy electric generation system on their rooftops.
YASIR ALI KHAN LODHI
Lahore
Solar power is a very precious asset I think! I think maybe in 10 years most of the new homes will have solar panels and this will have a dramatic effect on the environment and on the bills we pay.
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