The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) is preparing new rules for customers with solar systems who want to add battery storage.

Electricity Business Unit Manager Andre Matthias said the policy could be completed within weeks and will set technical and safety standards for connecting batteries to the electricity grid.

Customers have called for batteries to be treated like standby generators, allowing homes and businesses to maintain electricity during outages. But Matthias said batteries create a distinct safety risk because they operate silently.

He warned that a battery could continue feeding electricity into a section of the network that linesmen believe has been disconnected, potentially causing serious injury or death.

APUA introduced its interconnection policy in 2011 under a net-metering system, allowing solar customers to offset electricity use with power generated from rooftop systems. The authority later moved to net billing, citing the costs of maintaining the grid, meter reading and billing.

The proposed battery policy is intended to support the growth of renewable energy while protecting utility workers and maintaining the stability of the electricity network.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: New Policy Will Allow Customers to Connect Batteries to APUA Grid.