Republic of Srpska adopts rulebook on prosumers

The Regulatory Commission for Energy of the Republic of Srpska (REERS) has adopted the rulebook on prosumers, creating the conditions for households and firms to start producing electricity for self-consumption. The easiest way is to install solar panels.

The rulebook on prosumers is entering into force a year and a half after the Law on Renewable Energy Sources, which envisaged its adoption, Capital.ba noted. The Republic of Srpska is one of the two autonomous entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other one is called the Federation of BiH.

According to a draft version of the rulebook available on the regulatory panel’s website, prosumers should plan the capacities of their electricity generation devices to match their consumption. Namely, total annual production can’t be higher than their annual consumption.

Within the net metering or net billing schemes, the installed capacity cannot exceed the approved grid connection capacity, the document reads.

There is no additional limit to the capacity of prosumers’ power plants

It means households and companies will not be additionally limited when installing power plants as in some countries, for example Greece and Serbia.

Net metering is used for facilities up to and including 10.8 kW while the ones from 10.8 kW to a maximum of 50 kW will operate under the net billing mechanism. A standard supply scheme is envisaged for larger units.

Of note, net metering in Serbia is for households while companies work under a net billing system.

The supplier has a balancing responsibility for the prosumer’s measuring point while the owner of a facility with a capacity higher than 150 kW has an obligation to submit the daily production plan and to cover the expenses if a disbalance occurs.

Households and firms in multiapartment buildings have a possibility to participate through a joint production scheme, the rulebook reads.

A change of billing scheme and a loss of prosumer status are also possible

Consumers have the right to change the scheme. A prosumer operating through net metering or net billing that keeps generating more electricity than it consumes over one year has the right to switch to the standard supply scheme.

If a non-household prosumer’s annual output is less than 30% higher than its consumption, the entity has the right to sell excess electricity on the market according to the standard supply scheme, according to the document.

The distribution system operator (DSO) monitors their production and consumption. The rulebook stipulates that if a prosumer produces more than 30% above its consumption between April 1 and March 31 for three years in a row, it will lose its status,