Net metering across East Africa: compare the terms before the savings

A solar proposal cannot carry the same export assumption unchanged from one country to another. Compare the evidence, the connection terms and the site's load profile before comparing the payback headline.

What the published sources establish

• Kenya: EPRA's 2024 regulations link commercial capacity to demand and set a half-unit export credit with financial-year expiry. Read the Kenya factory guide for capacity and modelling questions.
• Uganda: ERA publishes 2024 regulations. A first-hand August 2025 report describes a guideline consultation; obtain the current issued terms before using its draft assumptions. See the Uganda checklist.
• Tanzania Mainland: EWURA's regulatory booklet describes the 2018 net-metering rules as an energy-exchange mechanism rather than a monetary purchase of energy. It requires a standard interconnection agreement before connection. Confirm current eligibility, capacity limits and connection terms with EWURA and the distribution network operator before relying on exports.

Rwanda and Ethiopia: obtain the project terms

This comparison does not establish current export eligibility or compensation for Rwanda or Ethiopia. Ask the regulator and relevant utility for the applicable instrument, customer eligibility, connection permission and billing terms. Obtain written project terms before including export income in an investment case. Until those terms are confirmed, keep export revenue as an unverified scenario in the model.

Use one comparison sheet

• Capacity: distinguish module DC, inverter AC, connection limit and the capacity used in the application.
• Consumption: use the same measurement interval for generation and site demand; annual totals hide weekend exports.
• Credits: record the conversion, tariff components, carry-forward and expiry rather than a single assumed export price.
• Connection: identify the study, meter, protection, costs and approval sequence.
• Operation: state curtailment, outages, backup-generator interfaces and responsibility for testing.
• Evidence: attach the dated regulatory document and written terms used in each scenario.

What a useful review returns

A review should show which assumptions are supported, which documents disagree and which decisions remain with the local engineer or utility. It should not turn an unconfirmed tariff into a guaranteed return. See a fictional issue register or discuss a scoped solar proposal review.

Primary sources checked 1 November 2026: EPRA's 2024 regulations; ERA's 2024 regulations listing; GET.transform's August 2025 consultation report; EWURA's electricity regulatory booklet, section 8.4. Confirm current amendments and the applicable project terms locally.