KE accepts applications for net metering

KARACHI: K-Electric (KE), the country’s only integrated power company, invited licence applications from its consumers producing solar power to sell surplus electricity to the energy grid.

“We are accepting applications from consumers who wish to sell their excess electricity produced from their roof-top solar PV (photovoltaic) panels or solar generators,” KE said in a statement. “We request all interested consumers to go through K-Electric’s website for detailed guidelines.”

Last year, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority approved rules under which customers can obtain licence to sell electricity from in-house power plants back to the power utility.

Consumers are able to continue using power utility’s supply during the solar lean period under net metering agreement.

Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) estimated that net metering would add 1,000 megawatts of solar power to the energy grid by 2021 and 4,500MW by 2025.

KE has more than 2.5 million industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential consumers in Karachi and some parts of interior Sindh and Balochistan, according to the company’s website.

The power utility kept the net metering application process simple with all necessary information and forms available on its website. It has also set up a net metering facilitation desk to serve as a single point of contact for customers to process the application.

All K-Electric residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers having a 3-phase connection (400 volts – 11 kilovolts) are eligible to apply for net metering. Once the application is approved, the energy exported will be netted off against imported energy and billed according to the prevailing tariff.

After the application is approved by the power utility and a bi-directional meter is installed, the consumer can start selling excess energy.

Solar PV Equipment installation must be done by vendors who are approved by AEDB.

“K-Electric is committed to ensuring provision of affordable and reliable energy solutions to its consumers through inclusion of renewable sources in its fuel mix,” the company said.

KE has also entered into an energy purchase agreement for a 50MW solar power project with Oursun Pakistan Limited, which is expected to commence commercial operation in 2018.