THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around 50,000 households in Kerala that have installed rooftop solar systems are reportedly waiting for net meters from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), leaving many installations unable to operate as intended. Several consumers have already spent lakhs of rupees, with some relying on bank loans to set up their solar plants.
A net meter is essential for a rooftop solar system connected to the electricity grid. It records both the power consumed from the KSEB network and surplus electricity generated by the solar installation and supplied back to the grid. Without the meter, the systems cannot be fully integrated into the grid.
The delay comes at a time when improved sunshine following the monsoon could allow households to generate more solar power. However, thousands of newly installed systems remain held up because of the shortage of net meters. The issue has reportedly persisted for several months in some areas.
KSEB has placed orders for 82,000 single-phase and 21,000 three-phase net meters. Before distribution, the utility plans to inspect the meters at the manufacturing facility to verify their quality. If the inspection is satisfactory, the meters are expected to reach KSEB stores and be distributed to consumers on a priority basis.
KSEB has also allowed consumers to purchase their own compatible net meters. However, a privately purchased meter reportedly costs around ₹6,000 and carries a limited warranty, while a KSEB-provided meter is available with a monthly rental of about ₹30 and a lifetime warranty. This has made many consumers hesitant to purchase meters independently.
Another concern is the planned transition to smart meters. Existing net meters may eventually have to be replaced because smart meters can perform net-metering functions, while conventional net meters cannot simply be converted into smart meters. Consumers who buy their own meters now could therefore face additional costs later.
With thousands of households waiting to connect their rooftop systems to the grid, consumers are urging KSEB to speed up procurement and distribution. The delay is also raising concerns over lost opportunities for households to reduce electricity costs and feed surplus renewable power into the grid.
