(Taguig City). Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi today announced that Net Metering has paved the way for investments in renewable energy (RE) through the distribution utility customers by allowing customers with installed equipment that harnesses either solar, wind, or biomass, to offset their electricity purchases from their local utility and receive credits for the excess power exported to the grid.
The Department of Energy is accelerating efforts to provide consumers with more sustainable energy choices by organizing through its Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office an orientation about the Net Metering Program of Meralco as it observed its 2016 Consumer Welfare Month with the theme, "Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility".
During the lecture held at the PNOC Theatre of the DOE Compound, Meralco's Program Manager for Renewable Energy Anna Maria Reodica recounted the first ever Net Metering customer in the country with a 5 kW rooftop solar PV system energized by Meralco in Nov. 2013.
Since then, Net Metering applications have been growing at an exponential rate, expanding from rooftop installations in households to commercial and industrial establishments, such as, malls, schools, offices, banks, cold storage and warehouses.
Cusi informed that to help in the widespread dissemination of the Net Metering mechanism, the National Electrification Administration took the initiative in 2014 to gather 80 electric cooperatives in the country to learn about Meralco’s Net Metering implementation which include a visit to the Solar PV Net Metering Pilot Project in their Ortigas compound.
Cusi advised customers to exercise caution by informing their distribution utility of any Solar PV or RE installations to ensure safety to both parties and preserve the stability of the grid where they are connected.
“These RE systems are “grid-tied” systems (operate in parallel with the DU network). They may create disturbance to the system and neighboring customers if left unchecked” Cusi concluded.
This Net Metering orientation was not the first time to be conducted. The Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Energy Regulatory Commission and National Renewable Energy Board have been conducting the same to their stakeholders.
Among those present during this activity were:
- Usec Felix William B. Fuentebella
- Ferdinand O. Geluz - MERALCO Vice President and Head
- Virgo Ramil T. Ruaro, Customer Solutions Manager
- Anna Maria A. Reodica, Renewables Program Manager
- Marlow L. Nuguid, Manager, Telecommunications Engineering
- Jonathan M. Aguilar, Customer Solutions Manager (tentative
- Christine A. Teodosio, Marketing Associate
- Ramon Sebastian O. Mathay, Regulatory Liaison Officer
- Melchor Mateo L. Luber, Team Leader, MSAM-Standards
- Julie B. Dulce, Analyst, Utility Economics
- Joel G. Sagun, Customer Solutions Associate
- Geralyn Solidum - Public Sector Head
- Julie B. Dulce - Analyst, Utility Economics
- Joel G. Sagun - Customer Solutions Associate
- Jojo Santiago - Relations Manager for PNOC
- Gina Magno - Relations Manager for DOE & DOST
- Danilo Aquillo - Team Leader/Energy Solutions Specialist
Other attendees were from the DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, Energy Policy and Planning Bureau, Oil Industry Management Bureau, PNOC, ITMS, Energy Utilization Management Bureau, and the Gender and Development.
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