Maharashtra revises procedures for Wind Open Access

Keys points on Revised Procedure for Wind Open Access in Maharashtra:

1.i) For wind open access application process the documents required would be:

• Last 3 months energy bills
• Consent letter from the wind generator
• Last 3 months generation credit note
• Declaration regarding installation of SEM at both ends
• Last open access permission of consumer / generator
• OA through trader, copy of valid Trading License and MoU between the trader & consumer/generator
• For Captive use, Chartered Accountant’s certificate regarding 100% ownership of the wind power project or Equity share holding and undertaking regarding more than 51 % self-consumption

ii) Complete open access application to be submitted well in advance i.e. preferably 30 days prior to the date of commencement of open access.

iii) If an open access consumer is situated in the License area of other utility / Distribution Licensee then copy of NOC / open access permission issued by the concerned Distribution Licensee shall be submitted along with the open access application.

iv) If an open access consumer fails to achieve the Maximum Demand equal to or greater than eighty (80) per cent of the threshold level, the open access permission will be cancelled and further he shall be liable to pay, to MSEDCL, a penalty equal to two times the wheeling charges for the financial year or part thereof for which he had failed to achieve such Maximum Demand

v) If the contract demand of the open access consumer is in the range of 1000 KVA– 1500 KVA then Renewal of Open Access Permission shall be subject to use of Maximum Demand equal to or greater than eighty (80) per cent of the threshold level during previous open access period

2)Eligibility conditions:

• An open access consumer can avail power from a Generating Company only, sourcing power from more than one / multiple generating companies will not be processed
• Declaration in advance by OA consumer for sourcing power from other sources or generating company.
• Open Access permission will not be granted to the consumers availing single point supply and sub distributing it further to multiple consumers. Such consumers are required to apply for Distribution Franchisee through MoU route as per relevant MERC & APTEL orders
• The open access consumer will be entitled to seek open access for sourcing 100% power generated from a wind power project.

 3) Metering:

 Installation of Special Energy Meter (SEM) at both ends i.e. at generation end and at consumption end of wind energy shall be mandatory to seek open access.

4) Energy Accounting & Billing:

• Joint Meter Reading (JMR), the monthly Generation Credit Notes (GCN) will be issued by the field office in due course of time
• The open access consumer/ generator shall arrange to pay the requisite open access charges (Wheeling charges, transmission charges, operating charges, charges for import of energy & KVARH charges) and collect the monthly GCN from field office regularly
• Late fees of Rs. 5000/- will be recovered if the GCN is collected one month later than JMR. Similarly, late fees of Rs. 6000/- will be applicable for issuance of GCN after 2 months from JMR.
• The GCN shall not be issued after 3 months from the Joint Meter Reading and the energy corresponding to the GCN shall be treated as lapsed
• The field office, where the open access consumer is situated, will give corresponding TOD time slot – wise credit adjustment in the monthly energy bills of the open access consumer.
• Open access consumer has to pay CSS charges for third party sale, CSS not applicable for captive.

5) Banking:

MSEDCL, for the time being, has decided to provide the banking facility in part i.e. the wind generation units will be allowed to get carried forward for getting adjusted in next energy bills if could not be adjusted in same month till the end of that financial year, but the surplus units, if any, at the end of financial year will not be purchased by MSEDCL.

6) Change of option not permitted during validity period:

OA consumer will be permitted only to change the option from open access to Sale to MSEDCL during the validity period of open access permission, no other option allowed.

7) Wind energy injected into the grid during the intervening period for which OA permission could not be granted due to late submission of OA application or change of option by wind open access generator from open access to Sale to MSEDCL during the validity period of open access permission, will be purchased by MSEDCL at MERC tariff rate from the wind generators.

• Gr I: 10 % less than that of GR.II MERC rate of Rs. 2.52 per unit
• Gr II: Rs. 2.52 per unit.
• Gr III: As per MERC order dated 24.11.2003
• Gr IV: Will not be purchased, wind energy will be treated as lapse.

Contributed by – Nishesh Pandit