Net Metering Journey
Prior to solar, we only consume less than 300kwh. Despite that we still decided to have PV system installed. Our house is already build with good roofing. Naka-abang na talaga in case we finally decided to have PV installed. Our house is located in a good location - south facing and no shading. Our initial plan was to go hybrid inverter with no battery and apply for net metering but we ultimately decided to go battery first. Having a battery is nice especially during brownouts. Ang liwanag ng bahay namin during brownouts and we do not have to worry about init at mga appliances na masira. Now, we decided to have 5 inverter aircon para masulit solar. Though di naman kami mahilig talaga mag-aircon. Umaga lang pag ma-araw or mga bata lang gumagamit pag gabi. Now our consumption is around 600-800kwh. Sobrang tipid ng konsumo ng aircon namin. We can open 3 aircon even 4 from 9PM until nagccharge na ulit battery and we still have 30% -40% left in the morning.
Anyway, after 2 months we finally decided to apply for net metering dahil rainy season na rin. Why? This is our future proofing and lifetime and net metering. Kahit wala na siguro kaming battery mag zero bill pa rin kami. We applied for CFEI. Kudos sa LGU namin dahil within 3 days nakuha namin CFEI. A day after submission ng electrical plan and electrical permit nagconduct na sila ng inspection. And they were very thorough buti na lang maayos ang electrical plan namin. We submitted sa DU Letter of Intent, CFEI, electrical plan, electrical permit and application form. Yan lang requirements dito sa amin. After 2 weeks nainspect kami and no findings were found. Pinabili lang kami ng meter base for the new meter and to sign and submit the Net Metering Agreement. We decided not to have a REC meter since ang layo ng electrical post namin sa main distribution panel. Honestly, this process could have been much faster kaso ang customer service/admin ng DU namin walang ginagawa and di alam ang process. After a week, nakabit na bi-directional meter namin and we are now exporting. Sobrang satisfying na may credits kami to use during rainy days lalo na ngayon plus battery during brownout.
In terms of cost, sa LGU 500 lang binayaran namin and sa DU wala kaming binayaran except for the meter base from electrical supply store namin binili. Sa ERC naman P1,500 lang. Total 5,000 lang. May nagoffer samin na maglakad ng net metering for P50,000, buti na lang I said no. Biruin mo yan from P5,000 to P50,000. The electrical plans pala galing na sa installer mismo. Kaya no additional cost na. Kung kaya nyo lakarin kayo na lang maglakad daming taga lakad dyan na sobrang over priced ng singil.
Kaya sana hindi masyadong ibash ang net metering kasi really really helpful sya and if complete requirements mas mura sya sa battery
EDIT: To those who are wondering I’m from Bicol. Dito sa amin may matrix for the payment of CFEI and electrical permit depending on the schedule of loads. It should be the same with other LGUs. I hate paying extra without any memos or basis for the calculations. No-no sa red tape. Although, in my case wala pa naman akong naexperience na humihingi ng padulas.
Nagpapakain lang kami sa inspection team and the DU personnel na pumunta dito sa amin.