The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of the country’s power utility ZESA Holdings, has called on its customers with solar systems to consider exporting their excess energy into the grid through net metering.
This appeal comes at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing a serious power crisis, with depressed generation at the country’s major power stations – Kariba and Hwange.
Kariba South Power Station, with an installed capacity of 1,050MW, is currently producing only 292MW due to low water levels at Lake Kariba.
Hwange Power Station’s ageing Units 1 to 6 are generating a fraction of their capacity, leaving the newly commissioned Units 7 and 8 to produce the bulk of the country’s locally-generated electricity.
On July 20th, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), another ZESA Holdings subsidiary, reported that the total generation from Hwange Power Station was 979MW, while Kariba contributed 292MW.
In its statement, ZETDC urged customers with solar systems on their premises to contact its Client Service Centre or dial 704 to get more information on the net metering programme. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing depressed power generation due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station. 
Customers with solar systems are encouraged to export the excess energy into the grid through Net Metering.
Find out more about Net Metering at your nearest ZETDC Client Service Centre or dial 704.
</blockquote>
Net metering is a policy that allows customers who generate their electricity from solar or other renewable energy sources to feed the excess electricity they generate back into the grid and receive credits on their electricity bills.
Here’s how net metering typically works:
<ul>
<li>The customer installs a renewable energy system, such as solar panels, that is connected to the local utility’s electrical grid.</li>
<li>When the customer’s renewable energy system generates more electricity than the customer is using, the excess electricity is sent back into the utility’s grid. Conversely, when the customer’s electricity needs exceed the amount being generated, the customer draws electricity from the grid.</li>
<li>The utility tracks both the electricity the customer draws from the grid and the excess electricity the customer sends back to the grid. The difference between these two amounts is the customer’s “net” electricity usage, which is what the customer is billed for.</li>
<li>For the excess electricity the customer sends to the grid, the utility provides the customer with a credit on their electricity bill, usually at the full retail rate. These credits can then be used to offset the customer’s electricity costs when they are drawing from the grid.</li>
</ul>
The goal of net metering is to support the growth of distributed renewable energy generation and reduce the strain on the electrical grid by empowering customers to generate their own clean electricity.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe's power company ZESA is asking people with solar panels to share extra energy with the grid. This is because there is not enough electricity in the country due to low water levels at power stations. Customers can get more information about this program called net metering. Net metering allows people with solar panels to give extra electricity to the grid and get credits on their bill. This helps the environment and the electricity grid. It is important to use renewable energy to help with the power crisis.

ZESA Encourages Customers To Embrace Net Metering

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has urged corporates to consider net metering in their 2024 strategy as this will reduce their electricity bills, reported <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/zera-calls-on-corporates-to-take-up-net-metering/">The Sunday News</a>.
ZERA said in addition to cutting costs, net metering will also allow businesses to reduce their carbon footprints.
Net metering is a billing arrangement to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power by electricity consumers.
It enables individuals or businesses with solar panels or other forms of distributed energy generation to connect to the electrical grid and receive credits for the excess electricity they produce.
In Zimbabwe it is being implemented through Statutory Instrument (SI) 86 of 2018 and its amendment SI 38 of 2022 for Solar Systems that are 5 megawatts (MW).
In a presentation unpacking the net metering system at the 9th edition of the CEO Africa Annual Roundtable in Victoria Falls on Thursday, ZERA Renewable Energy Engineer, Engineer Tobias Mudzingwa:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe has an abundant solar photovoltaic (PV) energy resource which is largely untapped and underutilised.
The country is committed to the revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 40 percent per capita emissions reduction across all sectors of the economy below the projected business-as-usual scenario by 2030.
Net metering reduces daytime load shedding as well as electricity imports. Net metering saves energy which can otherwise be channeled to other productive sectors of the economy such as industry and mining.
The increased implementation of net metering will go a long way in accelerating energy transition and help the country to meet its climate change goals.
</blockquote>
He said through the net metering system, ZETDC earlier this year started purchasing surplus solar power from households and businesses.
<blockquote>
Mudzingwa revealed that the total cumulative installed capacity for the 145 connected points was 8.869 MW as of end of September 2023,
</blockquote>
The capacity was distributed as 6.949 MW from commercial which was 78 percent and 1.920 MW from domestic 22 percent. He added:
<blockquote>
The utility is currently processing 97 applications that is 8.9 MW pending. The net metering operational aspects include the compensation factor of 0.8 for domestic customers and 0.85 for maximum demand time of use customers.
This provides for the utility network use charges. The accrued energy credits are to be rolled over only for a period to be determined by the authority from time to time as opposed to perpetual rollover. 
The connection fees are determined by the power utility subject to ZERA approval.
</blockquote>
Here’s how net metering typically works:
<ul>
<li>A consumer installs solar panels or another type of renewable energy system on their property, such as wind turbines or hydroelectric generators. These systems generate electricity for their own use.</li>
<li>The consumer’s renewable energy system is connected to the electrical grid, allowing them to draw electricity from the grid when their system doesn’t produce enough power.</li>
<li>When the consumer’s renewable energy system generates more electricity than they need, the excess electricity flows back into the grid. This surplus electricity is measured by a bi-directional meter.</li>
<li>The utility company credits the consumer’s account for the surplus electricity they export to the grid. This credit is usually based on the retail rate of electricity, which is the same rate that the consumer would pay for the electricity if they were drawing power from the grid.</li>
<li>When the consumer’s renewable energy system doesn’t generate enough electricity to meet their demand, they can draw electricity from the grid. In this case, they use the credits accumulated from the surplus electricity they previously exported.</li>
<li>At the end of a billing period (usually monthly), the consumer is billed for the net electricity consumed. If they consumed less electricity than they exported, they may only have to pay for the portion they used beyond what they generated. If they exported more electricity than they consumed, the excess credits may carry over to the following billing period or be compensated by the utility under the specific net metering policy.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZERA Urges Businesses To Embrace Net Metering

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, has started buying solar power from households.
So far, 117 households and businesses with solar power are selling their surplus to ZETDC under the power utility’s Net Metering programme.
Net Metering enables consumers who generate excess solar energy on their premises to feed the excess back into the ZETDC network via a grid-tied inverter. 
Those with solar power, a grid-tied inverter and the smart meter can sell electricity into the grid in return for electricity tokens they use when they do not have sufficient renewable supply.
According to ZETDC, as of January 2023, 117 connections had been made out of the 175 successful applications that were received, with the remaining applications still being evaluated.
ZETDC said that the connected installed capacity stood at 4.9MW, while the total capacity for all the applications received is at 12.5MW.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zesa-starts-buying-solar-power-from-households/">The Herald</a>, ZESA stakeholder relations communications and welfare manager George Manyaya said:
<blockquote>
The system starts with solar panels that convert 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.
Finally, the installed bi-directional meter measures the energy used and excess energy produced which is passed on to the grid
The customer gets their proportional electrical power units credited to their ZETDC account and not in monetary value.
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.
</blockquote>
This means that the electricity for those on net metering will be cheaper whenever they recharge or pay a post-paid bill.

ZESA Starts Buying Solar Power From Its Customers

Statement by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) on the introduction of net metering.
ZETDC is inviting all customers with Solar Systems to participate in the net metering programme and enjoy reduced electricity bills.
The Net Metering programme is a scheme where customers generating renewable energy on their premises can feed excess power back into the ZETDC network through a grid-tied inverter.
Who Qualifies
All existing ZETDC customers with a solar system qualifies for NET Metering.
Benefits of Net Metering
1. The excess generation shall be measured and credit units given to the generating customer.
2. The credited units will assist in reducing the total customer bill at the end of the month and also ensure domestic customers benefit by buying their electricity at the lower tariff band.
3. Net Metering is beneficial to the power utility and the Nation at large through saving of foreign currency through import substitution of power.
Application forms can be downloaded from the ZETDC Website www.zetdc.co.zw and are also available at all ZETDC offices.
Forms and correspondence can also be communicated through Email:
Harare Region – hararemetering@zetdc.co.zw;
Eastern Region – easternmetering@zetdc.co.zw;
Southern Region – southernmetering@zetdc.co.zw;
Western Region – westernmetering@zetdc.co.zw;
Northern Region – northernmetering@zetdc.co.zw
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

ZESA Incentivises Customers With Solar Power Systems

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of State-run ZESA Holdings, has introduced net metering, enabling consumers who generate excess solar energy on their premises to feed the excess back into the ZETDC network via a grid-tied inverter.
In a statement, ZETDC said any existing customer with a grid-tied solar system up to their rated power from ZETDC qualifies for Net Metering.
The power utility said those who qualify and are interested can apply to connect to the grid upon completion of the relevant application forms that are obtainable from their nearest ZETDC depot. The notice read:
<blockquote>The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued customers that the power utility has introduced the Net Metering programme.
The Net Metering programme is a scheme where customers generating solar energy on their premises can feed excess power back into the ZETDC Network through a grid-tied invertor.
Any existing customer with a grid-tied solar system up to their rated power from ZETDC qualifies for NET Metering and can apply to connect to the grid upon completion of the relevant application forms that are obtainable from their nearest ZETDC depot.</blockquote>
Net metering comes with benefits; the excess generation will be measured and credit units given to the generating customer rather than being forfeited and the credited units will assist in keeping the customer in the lower tariff band thus reducing the total bill at the end of the month.
Application forms can be obtained from the ZETDC Website (www.zetdc.co.zw), ZETDC depots and District offices countrywide.

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