All Answers: RE: [pakgrid] Reverse Metering + Solar Panels

Wednesday 29 May 2013

RE: [pakgrid] Reverse Metering + Solar Panels

Salaam,

I think it is a great idea. But, perhaps, instead of focusing on trying to convince the government we can engage with the public directly.

One of the key points of selling Solar has been to measure return on investment, this technique is used in the west because the usual power source is available and the people selling solar have to compare against it. In the end the customer has to be convinced of its usefulness. If the financial cost is too high, then in the west customers are told that this an environment friendly solution. This argument holds lots of emotional appeal for the ordinary people there. My advise is a bit different.

We can try to convince the end users directly by saying with this alternate energy source you will not have to depend on wapda completely. The hate and loathing for government sector power supply is at its peak now, and it is rightly so. They are corrupt, they dont supply power, they put in hidden surcharges all the time, they feed on public money but dont serve the public. If people are able to get rid of their dependence partially or completely I think that will be a very strong selling point.

Secondly for all intents and purposes the price increases will occur very rapidly now, although they will do it in 2 step forward and 1 step backward fashion. Many people have noticed that although we only get electricity for 50% or less of the time, the bill keeps increasing. So any calculation that are made for return on investment will be underestimating as we never include surcharges and price increases in our calculations. So dont make these estimates as the end user will only be put off. Instead appeal to the emotion that they may end up not having to deal with wapda at all.

About the government, lets just ignore them as they will try to make our lives hell, they want us to depend on them so they can blackmail us on critical issues.

PS: One of my students installed a complete solar system in his home, storage and everything. It cannot run AC's but everything else is on solar. Cost 12 Lakh. His last month bill was 500Rs. Without using a single unit of energy :)

Regards,

Ali Khawaja

--- On Mon, 5/27/13, Khawaja Hammad <hammadrs@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: Khawaja Hammad <hammadrs@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: [pakgrid] Reverse Metering + Solar Panels
To: "pakgrid@yahoogroups.com" <pakgrid@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, May 27, 2013, 9:10 PM

Even Govt takes initiative on first two points it can make a huge difference.Rest can add lot of administrative and operational hassles. Although it is doable but not in the current scenario.

To: pakgrid@yahoogroups.com
From: dr.jafar.rizvi@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 26 May 2013 09:40:10 +0500
Subject: [pakgrid] Reverse Metering + Solar Panels

While informal chat, Dr. Anjum Iqbal sahib gave a really good idea regarding energy solution as follows:

The solar panel system can be more useful, if we use 'Reverse Metering' system:

Govt. may help people buying solar panels on soft loans.
Govt. may recommend/approve solar system specifications to be used.
Distribution Companies can launch 'Reverse Metering' system. Excess energy, in the day, at end user premisis may be accepted by respective grid. When end user gets advantage of energy units this will make the project feasible. End user will try to install more and more solar panel at its premsis and end user will try to maintain it in a good state to get advantage of free energy.

Generation Companies may generate more energy in the night and less in the day. Because more solar energy is available in the day.
End user will not need a big battery bank for storage for night use.

Is this workable? What are your comments?

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