DERC announces final guidelines for (Group Net Metering & Virtual Net Metering for Renewable Energy) 2019

Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued the final guidelines for implementation of Group Net Metering & Virtual Net Metering framework under DERC (Net Metering for Renewable Energy, 2014).) The draft guidelines were issued in December 2018.

• The Group Net Metering framework will be applicable for all consumers of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
• The Virtual Net Metering framework will be applicable to residential consumers group housing societies, offices of Government /Local Authorities and Renewable Energy Generators registered under Mukhya Mantri Kisaan Aay Badhotari Yojna.
• Virtual Net Metering means an arrangement whereby entire energy generated/injected from a Renewable Energy System or Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through Renewable Energy System is exported to the grid from renewable energy meter/ gross meter and the energy exported is adjusted in more than one electricity service connection(s) of participating consumers located within the same distribution licensee’s area of supply.
• The annual generation of the Renewable Energy System will be calculated as per the normal CUF/PLF as decided by DERC from time to time.
• If the RE system is of a higher capacity than the sanctioned load of the consumer, then such Consumer of premises will have to pay Service Line cum Development (SLD) charges at the time of registration of Renewable Energy System, which will be equal to the differential amount of SLD charges between the capacity of the Renewable Energy System and the existing sanctioned load on the lines of enhancement of sanctioned load.

• Wherein sanctioned load of the consumer shall be used only for calculation of Service Line cum Development (SLD) charges and not for levying corresponding additional fixed charges.

• Available capacity: The capacity of a Renewable Energy system to be installed at the Premises of any consumer shall not be less than one-kilowatt peak.
• 5kW to 5,000 kW is the installed capacity limit for Group Net Metering and/or Virtual Net Metering.
• The distribution licensee is supposed to carry out all the technical survey with 4 months as per the Net Metering regulations, 2014.
• Metering arrangement: If a new meter is installed which is capable of recording both import & export of the electricity, the differential cost between the existing consumer meter will be borne by the consumer.
• Billing procedure: As and when the export of units during any billing period exceeds the import of units at the generation unit, such surplus units injected into the grid will be adjusted against the energy consumed in the monthly bill of the consumers.

Group Net metering & Virtual Net Metering are a comparatively new concept in India but is widely accepted in other countries. The concept once implemented successfully will allow all the users to take advantage of rooftop solar while generating good saving without having to pay a huge amount of capital cost upfront.