Most of the time we find ourselves overthinking on why our Electricity Bills keeps on going up in spite of using every energy saving ideas and still not making a significant change on our electricity bill, perhaps it’s about time to re think and change the way of our saving strategy.

One of the best and trending options now a days is to get out and enjoy the sun, it’s free and gives you an alternative ENERGY through the help of Solar Power Systems. Yes, you can cut down your electricity bills and have a FREE energy during day time by using Solar Power Systems. It’s practical and environmentally healthy.

Considering there’s more sun in the Philippines and more and more has become Environmentally Conscious are resorting into Green Energy like Solar Energy and because of this the Government with the help of the leading Distribution Utility (DU) and Solar Suppliers and Integrators, Net Metering Scheme was launched under the Philippine RE (Renewable Energy) Act of 2008.

Since July of 2013 all Qualified Residential, Commercial and Industrial Consumers with an on site RE (renewable energy) facility like Solar Power Roof Top System with a capacity of not more than 100KW to generate electricity for their own use can avail/apply of the Net Metering Scheme. Not everyone understand the process though however you can simply put it this way; Net Metering is the capability of a Qualified Solar Power System Owner to sell every excess Energy production of their Solar System. This will maximize the potential of the Solar System and no Energy will be wasted which will motivate Owners to save more Energy. For every kilowatt excess energy you give back to your Electric Company it will be deducted every month on your Electric Bills, Voila! Finally a Significant dent on your Bill!

But how does it work? Well it’s not easy, the first application we made took as 6 months to complete the process but it’s definitely our pride as it’s the first Bi-Directional Net Metering in the Philippines.

Gradually the process becomes easier, from 6 months to 5 months then it became 3 months hopefully it will be more faster and lesser paper works. See below checklists for easy guide:

CHECKLIST OF NET METERING REQUIREMENTS

1. Application Requirements
   1. Identification Document
   2. Certification of RE Equipment (optional)
   3. Certificate of Compliance (COC) Form 1
   4. Certificate of Compliance (COC) Form 2 – (if applicable, for non-individual applications)
   5. Secretary Certificate – (if applicable, for non-individual applications)
   6. Plant Parameters Form
   7. Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI)
   8. Check Payment for Certificate of Compliance (COC) equivalent to P1500.00

Note: Please keep the backside of the check left blank. You may provide your contact information to your Technical Support Engineer.

B)  COC Application Requirements

1. Distribution Utility (DU) Certification – c/o Meralco
2. Net Metering Agreement (NMA) – c/o Meralco to be signed and notarized by both the Meralco and Customer

Attachment:  Fixed Asset Boundary Document (FABD) – c/o Meralco to be signed by Meralco and Customer

3. COC Application Fee Php 1,500.00 – through Manager’s or Cashier’s Check payable to the “Energy Regulatory Commission”
4. COC Form N 1 COC Form No. 2 (If applicable, for non-individual applicants

Below are the Rules excerpt from the “Net-Metering Reference Guide”.

The Net Metering Rules (ERC Resolution No. 9, Series of 2013) enabling the Net Metering Program, released by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) last July 03, 2013, shall be effective starting July 24, 2013. These Rules provide that Distribution Utilities(DU) shall allow interconnection of Renewable Energy (RE) facilities such as solar, wind, biomass or biogas energy systems or such other systems capable of being installed within the end-user’s premises to the distribution grid. In this interconnection set-up, an end-user has a two-way connection, import and export, to the distribution grid, and is charged only for the net consumption. The salient features of the Rules are as follows:

Eligibility. All end-users, both residential and non-residential, with good credit standing in their payment of their electric bills to the DU are qualified to participate in the Net Metering Program for Renewable Energy. Eligible RE facilities include solar, wind, biomass or biogas energy systems or such other RE systems capable of being installed within the end-user premises. The capacity of the RE facility shall not exceed 100kW.

Inter-connection Set-up. The DU shall install two uni-directional meters, one for export and one for import; however, there is an option to install a single bi-directional meter, on a case by- case basis. A generation meter may also be installed by the DU to measure the total RE generated.

Net-Metering Agreement. After the DU and the end-user’s joint on-site inspection of the

RE facility for conformance to technical requirements, the DU and the end-user shall execute a Net Metering Agreement. This Net Metering Agreement shall govern the commercial and interconnection arrangements between the DU and the end user. This Agreement shall be signed first before the RE facility is interconnected and energized.

A good Solar Supplier and Integrator using a Quality Solar Components that has TUV Certificates will guarantee a faster and approve Net Metering Application.