Now, the government proposes Rs 10 per unit for new contracts, citing equity and grid sustainability. Earlier talks of gross metering—where solar users sell all output at a flat rate and buy grid power separately—were shelved, likely due to incompatible inverter software imports. Yet, the claim that solar users burden the grid with fixed costs overlooks a key engineering reality: on-grid and hybrid inverters deliver pure sine waves, synchronized at grid frequency and 180 degrees out of phase, reducing wear on transformers and appliances. This cleaner energy mix lowers maintenance costs, enhances grid stability, and supports industrial growth by freeing up off-peak capacity—benefits the government rarely acknowledges.
The Shadow of Misinformation and Market Manipulation
Each season, rumors swirl: net metering is ending, buyback rates are dropping, or gross metering is imminent. Much like the oil lobby, these whispers often trace back to vested interests—importers of conventional battery-based solutions pushing orthodox policies. At a recent expo, Chinese firms, flush with dollars, dominated pavilions, sidelining local pioneers like my firm. With 38 lithium battery brands now flooding the market, importers have a clear incentive to pressure the government into battery-friendly policies—hardly a bad idea if peak shaving were fully enabled, but premature without robust infrastructure.
