ERC eases net metering rules to boost renewables

MANILA, Philippines – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) seeks to boost the adoption of net metering with key changes in the rules. These are meant to simplify processes and further safeguard consumer interests.

Net metering allows consumers who generate their own power at a maximum of 100 kilowatts of renewable energy to sell some of their excess electricity to the grid. The value from the sale would then be credited to their monthly bills.

READ: Net metering gaining ground, says ERC

After a series of public consultations, the ERC released late Monday the amendments. These include permitting the banking and rollover of net-metering credits for transfer in case property ownership changes.

“In the event of a property ownership change, the credits may be transferred to the new owner, subject to conditions such as a conformed letter from the original owner,” the ERC said in a statement.

The installation of renewable energy certificates (REC) meters has also changed to a voluntary basis.

RECs are issued to participants involved in the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) program. These state that the energy sourced, produced and sold or used is from eligible renewable energy systems. RPS, meanwhile, refers to a policy that requires industry players to source 11 percent of their supply from renewable energy sources.

It is envisioned to increase the use of renewable energy as well as boost the country’s shift to clean power.

Promoting transparency

To further promote transparency, the ERC has directed distribution utilities to publish on their websites detailed information on their net-metering programs. This shall include application forms, processes and posting on a quarterly basis their hosting capacities on a per-distribution transformer basis.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin earlier said her department was exploring ways to streamline application processes in the program, particularly in observing strict timelines, as they aim at increasing solar panel installations at households.

As of May, a total of 17,175 electricity end-users were registered under the program. They account for an aggregate potential peak capacity of 157 megawatts. INQ