Ending the nine-month long confusion period, Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) in a recent order has increased net metering capacity up to 500 kilowatt (KWp) from earlier provision of 10kWp.
In June 2021, the central government had approved Net Metering Up to 500 kW Capacity for Rooftop Solar Power Systems. However, this Ministry of Power (MOP) ROC Amendment rules 2021 allowed the Commission to decide the capacity under net metering arrangement. Consequently, after considering views of all stakeholders RECR decided that net metering arrangement shall be applicable for loads up to five hundred kilowatt (500 kW) or upto the sanctioned load, whichever is lower, for all categories of the consumers.
In the prevailing conditions, as of now, for the regulatory certainty Commission decides that for the purpose of regulation 3.2 of the RERC DREGS Regulations 2021, net metering arrangement shall be applicable for loads up to five hundred kilowatt (500 kW) or upto the sanctioned load, whichever is lower, for all categories of the consumers. However, the Commission may take further view on other issues raised by the DISCOMs in their response at a later stage by following the due procedure.
RERC Order, September 2021
The State DISCOMs have also requested to allow them compensation for loss of the fixed charges in the form of ‘Banking’ or ‘Grid Support Charges’ or any other charges in case of net-metering and net-billing consumers (except domestic category).
Read Ahead:
RERC Order for Net-Metering to 500 KWp Capacity
As per this RERC order, the net-metering for solar power projects will be allowed upto maximum of 500 KWp or Sanctioned load whichever is lower.
If your Solar Power Plant capacity is more than 500 KWp then your project will comer under gross-metering / net-billing category. In such project, the power generated from the solar power plant will be supplied directly to grid and you will be provided credit for power units supplied under net-billing arrangement.