Net metering catches on among power users
Year-on-year net-metering numbers and capacity are increasing rapidly
Daily TribuneYear-on-year net-metering numbers and capacity are increasing rapidly
The Manila Electric Co. or Meralco reported a spike in the number of customers joining the net-metering scheme, which empowers them to generate their electricity for consumption and export any excess generation to the distribution grid.
In his speech on the second day of the three-day Giga Summit organized by Meralco Power Academy, Meralco senior vice president and chief revenue officer Ferdinand Geluz said the annual number of net-metering customers and its capacity are "increasing rapidly."
"To date, we have 8,544 net-metering customers with 50.3 megawatts of installed capacity. Year-on-year net-metering numbers and capacity are increasing rapidly," Geluz said.
"For the whole of 2022, these customers exported 20.3 GWh, while as of July this year, 16.2 gigawatt-hours in energy export was already generated and can be projected to exceed last year's aggregate number," he added.
Energy-efficient practice
Geluz also noted that the boost in net-metering initiatives complemented Republic Act 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, which institutionalizes energy efficiency and conservation, enhances the efficient use of energy, and grants incentives to energy efficiency and conservation projects.
The net-metering program allows customers to export their excess electricity to the grid in exchange for electricity bill credits.
To further encourage the use of cleaner and cheaper energy, the government previously said it will expand the program to more areas — especially in far-flung provinces that are not yet connected to the grid.
Last Monday, Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down overall energy consumption and cut down greenhouse gas emissions will be included in the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan or PEP supposed to be out this month.
Lotilla disclosed that public consultations on the draft PEP are ongoing.
