Sell solar power to neighbours, earn money: Opportunity for residents' associations and apartment complexes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the introduction of the new regulations on renewable energy and net metering, individuals will now be allowed to directly sell the solar electricity they generate at home to nearby houses or establishments. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will provide the necessary line infrastructure for this. The current system of solar metering in the state will come to an end on September 30.

Flats and residents' associations will also be permitted to jointly generate and sell solar electricity. Until now, only KSEB had the authority to do so.

Currently, individuals are allowed to generate and use electricity only for their own needs, and to transfer any excess electricity to KSEB. This is what is set to change. The Regulatory Commission says the new rules aim to shift solar power generation from being just a cost-cutting measure to becoming an entrepreneurial venture. The public can submit their opinions on this proposal until June 30. Afterwards, the Commission will conduct a public hearing. Only then will the final version of the regulations be implemented.

At present, rooftop solar producers use net metering to send the electricity generated during the day to the KSEB grid and draw power from the grid at night for their own use. With the new regulations, this will change. The scheme of transferring all the power generated during the day to KSEB will be limited to those generating up to 2 kilowatts. Others will need to adopt a different metering method. As a result, the current billing system — which is based on the difference between the electricity sent to and taken from the grid — will also change. The Commission clarified that the new regulations will come into effect only after considering public feedback.