The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has proposed regulations on the draft net metering and solar water heating during a public participation workshop held in Nairobi.
EPRA Director General (DG) Daniel Kiptoo noted that the two proposed regulations such as the draft net metering and solar water heating aims to reduce power losses and ensure sustainability and reliability in the energy sector.
The workshop seeks to enhance lives by ensuring that there is sustainable cost efficient quality of energy and petroleum. “The solar water heating features will have a different design, installation and repairs with a view of improving quality,” remarked Kiptoo.
In a speech read on his behalf by EPRA’s Renewable Energy Principal Officer Caroline Kimathi, the DG said that the net metering and solar water heating opts to reduce power losses.
“We live in a country that has great potential to achieve this goal with over 86 percent electricity generated in Kenya coming from renewable energy sources,” expressed Kiptoo.
He further stated that there is a need to ensure access to affordable, reliable and modern energy as guided by the Sustainable Development Goal number 7.
At the same time, Electricity Regulatory Commission Representative Dr. Keren Kaberere said that their main objective is to engage and encourage public participation into general provision matters.
Kaberere added that there are various reasons that motivate global net metering such as the need to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation.
She added that increase in energy security will eradicate dependence on non-renewable energy sources thus leading to reduction of gas emissions from power generation in green houses.
Kaberere said that over 70 percent of electricity is supplied from renewable energy with geothermal being the main one followed by hydro and wind respectively. “Net metering is not a new system as it is being practiced in all western countries but their experience is not the same as ours,” stated Kaberere.
She encouraged private investors to partake in this renewable source of energy as it is a capital investment that is relatively affordable, urging all stakeholders involved to take initiative and learn net metering in a span of three years.
In her remarks, advocate Noreen Kidudhuhu directed that net metering and solar heating regulations would be accessible through the EPRA website where an applicant is required to register enabling easy access to their services.
By Trepher Leslie and Phinta Amondi
