Faster adoption of solar net metering urged

With the proposed amendments in the rules, industry stakeholders have been urging the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to hasten processes so net metering on solar could pick up on a faster pace in the country.

Joining the bandwagon of net metering advocates is the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), with it stressing that “a larger number of net metering installations will augment power supply during peak demand periods.”

The group proffered that this could help pull down electricity spot market rates and will also correspondingly bring down transmission and distribution charges.

The ICSC similarly recommended that the distribution and electric cooperatives “should be directed to pass-on the savings attributable to the net metering program to their customers.”

Lawyer Pete Maniego, ICSC senior policy advisor and former chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), pointed out that “widespread adoption of net metering will not only reduce electricity bills in the Philippines but ensure growth in an industry bound to rake in billions of investment dollars to the country.”

Solar installations are seen “best fit” for net metering program, but industry stakeholders opined that right regulations must first be established to entice consumers to take the shift.

With net metering, Filipino end-users could turn into “prosumers” – assuming both the role of producer and consumer of electricity. That way, they would be able to ascertain for themselves what is the real cost of electricity that shall underpin their quality of life and even businesses.

Under the net metering concept, consumers could opt for solar installation in their homes or establishments. And any volume they cannot consume can be funneled to the grid with cost offsetting scheme that must be prescribed by regulations.

The details and viability of proposed regulatory framework is still the subject of debate among various industry stakeholders – with much of the pressure being latched on to government for the policies and rules. In other countries, consumers have generated savings with their patronage of ‘net metering program’; and this is the same outcome being hankered for in the Philippines.

Maniego said “Filipinos are burdened by expensive electricity rates so it’s difficult for people to feel that their economic fortunes are changing for the better.” (MMV)