Net-metering facility for all educational institutions in UP

Lucknow: All government and non-government buildings, institutes, schools and colleges will soon avail of the net metering facility in Uttar Pradesh with the state government pushing the usage of solar power in the state.

The government spokesman said that the UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) had decided to make suitable changes in the current regulation that allows the benefit of net metering only to metered residential and metered agriculture consumers.

“The commission will soon amend the UPERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interaction System/Gross Net Metering Regulation), 2019, in line with the UP government’s solar policy 2022 that seeks to expand the net metering facility in the state,” a UPERC spokesman said.

Net metering is a billing arrangement for consumers connected to grid and also using solar panels to generate solar power. When their solar panels produce excess electricity that they do not use, it automatically flows back into the grid with the help of a bidirectional meter. The cost of the surplus solar power sent to the grid is credited to the consumers through adjustment in their monthly bills.

The proposal draft that the UPERC has circulated for wider discussions and consultations before amending the 2019 regulation seeks to introduce several changes in the existing rules.

The draft expands the eligibility for net metering arrangement to include non-residential institutions such as government offices, educational institutions, libraries and similar other entities. The draft incorporates the provisions of the UP Solar Policy 2022, outlining which types of consumers will be eligible for net metering.