THE Solar Industry Association of Zambia has urged government to engage financial institutions on the possibilities of lowering interest rates on solar equipment loans as it implements the net metering initiative. Association president Matanda Mwewa has also called for enhanced public awareness on net metering from both government and other players. Last week, government disclosed that it had gazetted the regulation on net metering, and envisaged registering the first customer on August 1, 2024. In an interview, Mwewa said the cost of solar equipment for an average Zambian to qualify for net metering was high and urged that people should be allowed to use the installation as collateral. “Solar per se is not cheap for an average Zambian. The cost...