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The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) has connected 117 households and businesses to net metering.
The connected installed capacity stands at 4,9MW.
Net metering is a programme by ZETDC where customers generating solar energy on their premises can feed excess power back into the ZETDC network. Those that use solar power, a grid-tied inverter and a smart meter can sell electricity into the grid in return for electricity credits which they can then use when they have insufficient renewable energy supply.
Zesa’s stakeholder relations communications and welfare manager Dr George Manyaya told the Herald how net metering works with the help of smart meters that measure both power consumed by the customer and power supplied to the grid.
“The system starts with solar panels that converts energy from the sun into electricity, an inverter then converts the electricity produced by the solar panels from direct current alternating current for use in your home,school or business, he said
“Finally the installed bi-directional meter measures the energy used and excess energy produced which is passed on to the grid,”
“Customers can pass on their surplus generated energy to ZETDC. This power is then used to offset electric energy provided by ZETDC to the customer during an applicable billing period,” Dr Manyaya said.
The net metering initiative comes at a time when the nation is grappling with power cuts.
The ZETDC has urged those that have solar panels to apply for net metering to ease demand on the national grid.
Customers that have interest in applying can contact any ZETDC client service centre.
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