• Self-consumption: You use your solar power on-site to reduce grid purchases. Any “excess” PV is typically curtailed or managed internally unless export is formally enabled.
• Net metering: Your system can export surplus energy to the grid and that export is credited/settled under the applicable programme rules and approvals. Uganda has formalised this under The Electricity (Net Metering) Regulations, 2024 issued by ERA.
For general framing, net metering is commonly defined as allowing customers who generate electricity to feed unused electricity back into the grid.
No. Export is not assumed by default. Export depends on:
• The project configuration and control settings
• Metering requirements (including bidirectional metering)
• Approvals and the settlement framework under the net metering programme or other applicable arrangements
Uganda’s net metering framework is governed by ERA’s 2024 regulations.
A bidirectional meter separately measures:
• Energy imported from the grid, and
• Energy exported to the grid
This enables accurate settlement, transparent performance verification, and (where applicable) export crediting under net metering. Uganda’s net metering framework explicitly contemplates bidirectional metering as part of programme implementation.
At a high level, settlement relies on accurate measurement of import and export via approved metering. The detailed settlement method (crediting, billing cycle treatment, and any programme-specific adjustments) follows the ERA net metering regulations and the implementing guidelines and utility procedures.
Approvals vary by project type, but commonly include:
• Compliance with the net metering framework (where export/net metering is pursued)
• Utility/distribution interconnection requirements (technical checks, protection settings, metering)
• Standard electrical compliance requirements and documentation as required by the utility process
ERA’s net metering regulations provide the overarching regulatory framework.
A typical high-level workflow is:
1. System concept and application preparation (technical details, single-line diagram, equipment specs)
2. Utility/distributor technical review and site checks (as applicable)
3. Metering and interconnection conditions confirmation
4. Installation, commissioning tests, and evidence pack
5. Connection approval / activation (and settlement setup if net metering applies)
For general connection process steps, UEDCL publishes customer-facing application guidance (new connection process), which reflects how formal submissions and document checks are handled.
Timelines are site- and utility-dependent. URPC positions approvals timeframes as indicative until the application is reviewed and the distributor confirms conditions. The critical path is typically driven by: completeness of documents, site readiness, utility scheduling, and any required interconnection works.
If the system is grid-tied without batteries, it typically shuts down during an outage to protect utility workers and comply with anti-islanding safety requirements (configured through approved inverter protections).
If the system is a hybrid PV+BESS, it can be configured to supply critical loads during outages, subject to system design and agreed load prioritisation.
Voltage dips can trip sensitive equipment and damage motors over time. URPC hybrid designs can improve:
• Continuity for critical circuits
• Voltage stability and equipment protection (site-dependent)
• Reduction in nuisance trips and downtime
Final power quality outcomes depend on the load profile, protection coordination, and site wiring condition.
For relevant sectors and financing structures, URPC can implement prepaid or controlled-payment metering (often mobile money connected) so customers pay instalments aligned to usage access, with clear default management mechanisms defined contractually.
Customer protections are contract-driven and typically include:
• Clear disclosure of charges and repayment schedule
• Defined cure periods and reconnection rules
• Transparent payment receipts and usage records
• Escalation and dispute-handling pathway
URPC structures these terms to be enforceable while maintaining fairness and auditability.
URPC treats submitted documents and site information as controlled-access assessment data. Data handling is aligned to Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which regulates collection and processing of personal data.
Grid export, net metering participation, and settlement outcomes depend on approvals, utility requirements, metering configuration, and executed agreements under the applicable regulatory framework. URPC provides technical support and documentation, but final permissions and timelines are determined by the relevant authorities and distributors.
