The Myth: “I only use power at night, so Solar is a bad deal.”
This is a very common concern. Without understanding Malaysia’s solar policies, it’s logical to think: Solar panels only work during the day (11 am – 3 pm), but that’s exactly when you are at the office and the kids are at school. The house is empty, except for the fridge.
“So, isn’t all that power wasted? And I still have to pay TNB when I come home at night?”
The answer is: Absolutely NOT! Thanks to NEM 3.0.
What is NEM 3.0 (Net Energy Metering)?
NEM 3.0 is a scheme introduced by the Malaysian government to encourage solar adoption. The core concept is simple: The TNB grid acts as your “Virtual Battery.”
Under NEM, the electricity generated by your solar system has two destinations:
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Self-Consumption: It first powers whatever appliances are running in your house (e.g., the fridge, standby WiFi).
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Export to Grid: If you generate more than you use (which is exactly the case for working professionals during the day), the excess energy is automatically exported back to the TNB grid.
Here’s the Key: TNB “Owes” You Power
When you export excess electricity to TNB, they record it and give you a 1:1 Energy Credit.
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Daytime (Export): You are not home. Your solar generates 50kWh, but the house only uses 5kWh. The remaining 45kWh is “deposited” into the TNB grid.
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Nighttime (Import): You come home, turn on the aircon, TV, and lights. Since the sun is down, you draw power from the grid.
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The Offset: At the end of the month, TNB deducts the 45kWh you “deposited” earlier. If you used 50kWh at night, you only pay for the remaining 5kWh!
Counter-Intuitive Logic: Why Being “Not Home” is Great for Solar
For working professionals, your roof is essentially a “High-Efficiency Power Plant.”
Precisely because you are not home, your daytime consumption is low. This means you are exporting the maximum possible amount of solar energy to TNB, earning the maximum amount of Credits. These credits are like money in the bank, waiting for you to “spend” them when you return home at night or stay in during weekends.
Conclusion: Don’t let “not being home” stop you. Under NEM 3.0, not a single watt is wasted. Your roof works to earn (store energy) during the day, so you can enjoy it at night. This is the beauty of solar energy “time-shifting.”
