THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Regulatory Commission to introduce net billing to extort those who switched to solar schemes to reduce electricity bills.

Giving and receiving conditions are being changed by creating a smokescreen by assuring customers that the billing conditions will not change. This is why the Renewable Energy and Net Metering Second Amendment Regulations - 2024 is being brought in. The amendment will be implemented on the 15th of this month at 11 am in the hall of Thiruvananthapuram Institute of Engineers.

The evidence collection conducted for this purpose on March 20 could not be completed due to the objections of the customers. The current practice is to calculate the KSEB power consumed by the customers by subtracting the solar power supplied by them and billing them only for excess usage. This is what attracted people to solar and the bill came down significantly.

The amendment does not allow the transaction based on electricity units in both sectors. Instead, the transaction will be based on the price of electricity. A higher price is fixed for KSEB's electricity and a lower price for consumer-supplied solar power. KSEB's electricity will be billed in full. Solar power will also be calculated similarly. KSEB fee will always be very high. The electricity bill of the total amount after deducting the price for solar will keep on coming. Solar electricity costs Rs 2.69 per unit and KSEB's electricity costs an average of Rs 4.20 per unit.

The Regulatory Commission explains that Rules 21 and 26 of the Renewable Energy Regulation will remain. The Commission has remained silent on the fact that the change will be a huge blow to consumers.

Current system

(model)

Solar power..................................180 units

Home use.................................... 200 units

Additional usage..........................20 units

Bi-monthly bill for 20 units..........126 rupees

After the amendment

Solar power...............................180 units

Price fixed for solar power.......Rs.484

Home use...................................200 units

KSEB Bill: ...................................Rs.857

Amount to be paid.....................Rs.373

Difference between both bills: Rs.247