ISLAMABAD: A civil society organisation has called upon the government to take environment-friendly steps to save the future of the new generation.

Shahida Kausar, who is the chairperson of Subh-i-Nau, appreciated the decision of the Punjab government to introduce a net metering system for electricity consumers and suggested that other provinces should also launch it.Under the system, smart meters are fixed at houses, departments, industries and organisations and the consumers are allowed to produce electricity. The consumers not only can use the self-generated electricity but can also sell it to the electric supply company.

Last year, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) offered to its consumers to produce electricity and sell the surplus to the company. Iesco not only encouraged domestic users having three-phase meters to produce electricity but also showed its willingness to buy the surplus from them at the rate of Rs9.25 per unit.

Because of the decision, currently over a dozen departments, including Parliament House, the Pakistan Engineering Council and Planning Commission, have sought the net metering system. A number of applications have been submitted to Iesco which are being processed through its one-window operation.

If any user wants to produce and sell electricity they have to apply for the two-directional meter and can start producing electricity through solar or any other source. As most of the family members remain outside during daytime the electricity produced by the consumer is not used and starts flowing towards the main grid. In the evening when the family members start using the electricity, the flow of electricity starts towards the house again.

The two-directional meter records both the readings and at the end of the month the amount for the electricity sold to Iesco is deducted from the bill sent by Iesco. If the amount is more than the use of the Iesco electricity by the user they can get a cheque after three months.

Recently, the government of Punjab also introduced the same programme for the consumers and encouraged the citizens to produce electricity domestically.

Ms Kausar told Dawn that two years ago she had a meeting with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and informed him about the idea of net metering.

“Unfortunately, Mr Dar did not put an ear to my idea. I suggest that every person should go for solar or wind energy to not only overcome the energy crisis but also save our environment as solar energy is environment friendly.”

She said she had been meeting all the requirements of her house through solar energy and that people should also go for this energy source because the energy produced by oil is not only hazardous for environment but also for the health of the citizens.

She said the net metering system would encourage customers to use alternative means of electricity and sell surplus to the government.

She said other provinces should also follow Punjab for this system to reduce the burden on the national grid.

“This will also encourage people to adopt alternative means of energy, including solar and wind power, which are environment-friendly alternatives. These small steps will also help bringing down the rising temperatures in the country,” she said.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2017