Question 32 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Current
Affairs

Question

âNet meteringâ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers

Strategy: Analyze the term 'net metering' by focusing on the word 'net', which implies a balance between two flows. In an energy context, this means both production and consumption. Identify which option involves this two-way interaction with the grid. **Solar energy** generation by households fits this description, as they both consume from and export to the grid. Eliminate options like piped natural gas, CNG, or water meters, which only measure single-direction consumption.

Key Info: Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. When a solar panel system produces more electricity than the home or business consumes, the excess electricity is exported back to the grid. The electricity meter then effectively runs backward to provide a credit against the electricity consumed from the grid, typically resulting in a reduced or zero electricity bill. The consumer pays only for their 'net' electricity consumption (the difference between the electricity consumed from the grid and the electricity exported to it).

* **Purpose**: Net metering is a crucial policy tool designed to promote the adoption of distributed renewable energy sources, especially rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, by making them economically viable for households and commercial establishments. It incentivizes self-generation and reduces the financial burden on consumers.
* **Mechanism**: A bidirectional meter is installed to record both the electricity drawn from the grid and the surplus electricity supplied to the grid by the consumer's solar system. The net usage is calculated, and billing is based on this net amount.
* **Rooftop Solar in India**: The Government of India, under schemes like the National Solar Mission and recent initiatives targeting 1 crore households, actively promotes rooftop solar installations through subsidies, simplified procedures, and regulatory frameworks including net metering, to achieve its renewable energy targets and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
* **Other Options Context**: Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) pertain to fuel consumption and alternative vehicle fuels, respectively, while water meters are for measuring water consumption. None of these involve the two-way energy flow (production and consumption by the same entity) that 'net metering' signifies.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: use of piped natural gas in the kitchens of households

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: installation of CNG kits in motor-cars

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: installation of water meters in urban households

âNet meteringâ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the

âNet meteringâ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of promoting the