West Bengal allows net metering for individual households
The government of West Bengal has allowed net metering for individual household rooftop solar panels starting at 1KW to 5 KW in order to popularise solar energy in the State.
Previously institutional, commercial, industrial, and co-operative housing was given the benefit of net metering only and that too for an over 5 kW capacity.
With its recent amendments to the Cogeneration and Electricity Generation from Renewables Sources Regulations 2013, the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) has permitted net metering for individual households from 1 kW onward but limited to max 5 kW, reported by a senior official to PTI.
According to the WBERC official, earlier regulations did not permit net metering to common households. In order to increase the use of renewable energy, the net metering of the solar power plant from 1 to 5 kW has been approved. Thus now, there are no restrictions and anyone can install rooftop solar panels.
However, a consumer cannot install solar panels in excess of their load. A WBERC official said that if a household has an electricity load of 2 kW, its installation cannot exceed 2 kW, even if it has space and interest.
The concept of net metering allows the number of units produced from total consumption to be set-off and the consumer only pays the electricity charges received from the grid or distribution company.
The regulation provides for a set-off of up to 90% of its solar power generation for a month.
The latest amendment permits “gross metering” facilities for installing capacities of solar systems above 5 KW.
Compared to net metering, the commercial advantage for a consumer is much smaller in gross metering making adoption less commercially attractive.
In its model regulation, the Union Power Ministry provided gross metering of more than 10 kW of solar installation, the official added.
