GERC proposes amendments in Gujarat rooftop net metering regulations

Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has proposed changes to the 2016 Regulations on Net Metering Rooftop Solar Grid-Interactive Systems. Net metering will now be allowed for loads up to 10 KW and gross metering for loads above 10 KW. The installed capacity must be between 1 kW and 1 MW. The Ministry of Power recently amended the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, allowing prosumers to use net metering for loads up to 500 KW or the approved load, whichever is lower. Rooftop projects set up by residential customers will be allowed regardless of the approved load, and captive and third-party projects will have no capacity restrictions. The projects will be allowed up to the approved load or contracted demand for projects under the renewable energy certificate (REC) mechanism for captive or third-party sale. Regardless of their approved load or contracted demand, consumers will be able to set up projects to meet their renewable purchase obligation (RPO) requirements. For additional capacity, a new agreement must be signed under existing regulations. The licensee must separately report the amount of electricity injected into the grid, electricity supplied by the distribution licensee, net billed electricity, and net exported energy after adjustments against consumption for each billing cycle. If rooftop projects are set up with gross metering, the electricity generated and supplied by them will be shown separately on the bill at the rate set by the Commission. In the case of gross metering, distribution licensees will purchase electricity at the rate set by the Commission in its order dated August 8, 2019, in response to Petition number 1802 of 2019. The gross metering tariff will be the simple average of tariffs discovered in competitive bidding of projects outside the solar park in the six months leading up to 31 March, plus Rs 0.20 per kWh. This applies to power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed between April and September. For projects signing PPAs from October to March, the same calculation as above will apply for six months up to 30 September, with an addition of Rs 0.20 per kWh. The Rs 0.20 per kWh increase in tariff allows for Rs 0.12 per kWh in transmission loss savings and Rs 0.08 per kWh in compensation for high land costs, higher capital investment, and maintenance costs associated with small projects. Image Source Also read: Ministry of Power nods net metering for rooftop solar up to 500 kW Also read: GERC nods amendments sought by GUVNL for power procurement by discoms