EDC's solar net metering discussion

Energy Development Council (EDC) organized an interaction program on “Solar Net Metering- Current State of Policy and Guideline” at Baber Mahal Revisited on Wednesday. In presence of Member of Parliament Basanta Kumar Nembang, Head of Executive Committee of EDC Kushal Gurung and Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising discussed on the pros and challenges of solar net metering with solar energy stakeholders.

Aashish Chalise, Executive Committee Member of EDC presented few topics related to net metering. He explained, “The potential of rooftop net metering is high in Nepal. Technically, 600MW solar rooftop energy is feasible in Kathmandu Valley itself. However, there are challenges which can be overcome if government and stakeholders work accordingly.”

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Kulmang Ghising delivered special remarks on solar net metering and emphasized on its capacity to generate revenue from each household, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the country. He added, “Government of Nepal has not limited net metering in papers but as a key priotity to empower every household. We have come up with the slogan ‘each house is a powerhouse and each village is an energy village’.”

Senior Divisional Engineer at Ministry of Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Raju Maharjan, and Director of Energy Efficiency and Loss Reduction Department at NEA Ramji Bhandari addressed the questions regarding net metering payment system put forward by participants.

At the program, Ghising announced that net metering billing system is under discussion and not yet approved by NEA Board and the system will be done in terms of price instead of unit, at the end of the year.

The program organizer Energy Development Council is the only national level body that holistically represents the interest of the entire energy sector of Nepal. The EDC umbrella consists of developers, associations, consumers, financiers and funders, consumer institutions, private and government contractors all involved in hydropower, solar, wind and other renewable, generating more than 80% of the nation’s total electricity.

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