Oral reply to PQ on Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme

Question

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry with regard to the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (a) what are the regulations or rules that protect the interests of sub-accounts who wish to recover excess solar generation power that flows back to the grid; and (b) what are the potential workarounds to resolve constraints faced by sub-accounts in receiving payments for exported solar electricity from the master account holder.

Oral Answer (to be attributed to Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling)

1. The Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme, or ECIS, allows contestable consumers with small solar panel systems, that is, less than ten Megawatts of Alternating Current, to sell their excess electricity into the wholesale electricity market through SP Services as an intermediary.  Sub-accounts can do so through the master account, after fulfilling their demand and the aggregated on-site demand of the master account and other tenants. The sub-accounts will need to enter into commercial agreements with the master account to share revenues from the sale of electricity to the grid.

2. While there are no specific rules or regulations governing such commercial agreements between the master and sub-accounts, the Government encourages all parties to be fair and transparent and we will support industry-led efforts in promoting best practices.

3. The Government will also continue to review ways to incentivise and promote more solar adoption, including co-creating solutions with private developers and industry players, as well as working with stakeholders to address regulatory challenges and maximise solar energy adoption in Singapore.