Premier: Consumers can sell back solar power to grid under new law

Abang Johari (seated, centre) at the dinner in conjunction with CAFEO in Denpasar, Bali on Nov 21, 2023. Photo credit: Sarawak Public Communications Unit

KUCHING, Nov 22: Homeowners now have the greenlight to install solar panels on their rooftops, to generate electricity of up to 50 kilowatts (KW) following the passing of the amendment to the Electricity Ordinance in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).

Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that surplus electricity produced by these solar panels could be sold back to the grid without the need for a licence, thus creating a potential income stream for homeowners.

“Moreover, this would also be an additional source of clean power to add to other renewable sources, especially hydropower, in Sarawak,” he said.

He highlighted this in his speech at a dinner here organised by Sarawak Association of Bumiputera Consultant Engineers at a hotel in conjunction with his visit to attend the three-day 41st Conference of Asean Federation of Organisations of Engineers (CAFEO) in Denpasar, Bali yesterday (Nov 21).

The Premier, who arrived in Bali yesterday afternoon with his entourage will be conferred the Distinguished Honourary Fellow Award by Asean Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) and later deliver a short address to 1,000 delegates from 10 Asean countries.

Highlighting the significance of the new policy, Abang Johari emphasised its potential to create opportunities for the engineering community in Sarawak.

He considered it a historic move that would require innovative designs for houses in line with the amended regulations.

On the law to empower Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) to be sole gas aggregator in Sarawak, he described this crucial legislation which has also been passed in the current DUN Sitting as important and historic as well.

The law would make Petros, the State’s oil and gas company, the single entity responsible for gas distribution in Sarawak in line with the Sarawak’s Gas Roadmap initiative that would involve the supply of both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and offshore gas feedstock to downstream industries.

“This initiative would open even more opportunities for Sarawak’s engineers as many aspects of engineering services and expertise are required to realise the Roadmap’s objectives,” he added.

Accompanying the Premier were Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Ir Aidel Lariwoo and senior government officials. — DayakDaily