Sri Lanka power utility to start net metering

Sept 11, 2008 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's power distributors are to start net metering, where customers would be able to generate small amounts of renewable energy, 'export' to the national grid, and only pay for the 'net' amount of electricity used.







A note to cabinet said the proposal would encourage customers to generate their own electricity through renewable sources of power such as solar, hydro or biomass in their own premises.

Only power generated in the customer's own premises could be 'exported'.

Customers would not be paid cash for excess power over a meting period (usually a month) but they would be able to carry the excess power forward to be used in the future.

Both Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) customers could apply for a licence and sign a 10-year agreement under the purview of the Sustainable Energy Authority.

Customers would then have a two-way metres installed.

The cabinet note said the proposal would have immediate effect.

The net metering would be limited to a capacity 13 kiloWatts for single phase consumers.

Individuals who want to generate more than 40 kiloWatts would have to sign an existing standardised power purchase agreement where a tiered tariff applie