Power firm notes growing awareness on net-metering

CEBU, Philippines –  Institutional and even residential power consumers are now starting to appreciate the adaption of net-metering scheme as Visayas Electric Company (VECO) reported a significant increase of applicants.

Jill Verallo, VECO reputation enhancement department told The Freeman yesterday that as of October 1 this year, the electric distribution company logged 21 on-going applications, with total capacity of 21,000 watts.

The number of consumers enrolled to the system has reached to 11, with a combined wattage of 123,920. Sunpride Foods as the largest enrollee with 21,000 watts.

This means that there is now a growing number of consumers who are more aware of the benefits of adapting to the scheme.

The net-metering scheme is the first non-fiscal incentive mechanism under the Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008. It is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.

The scheme allows house owners and commercial establishments to install solar photovoltaic panels and partly satisfy their electricity demand. The excess power that they generate is delivered to the utility and used to offset the customer’s electricity consumption.

The basic concept of the net metering is that if the consumption exceeds generation, customers pay for net per kilowatt-hour consumed.

However, if the generation exceeds consumption, customers receive credit in their bill for net excess generation.

Recently, VECO senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO) Anton Mari Perdices, urged customers to take advantage of this scheme, although VECO, as a business, will not get anything from it profit-wise.

Perdices said that while VECO supports the installation of renewable energy devices, like solar panels that could be enrolled in the net metering scheme, users should only use those of reputable brands.

According to Perdices, VECO has a list of reputable suppliers of good quality solar panel brands. Proper installation of solar panel is likewise crucial, in order to serve the purpose of conserving energy.