MERC denies Cleanmax’s plea to use Open Access and Net metering simultaneously

In a petition filed by Cleanmax Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd., the organization had sought clarification regarding the net metering arrangements for Open Access consumers under the MERC regulations 2015 from the commission. As a part of the reply to the petition, according to the ruling by MERC, the generators cannot use both Open Access and net metering simultaneously. The regulatory commission also mentioned that benefits of net-metering are limited to the rooftop solar installations with capacity up to 1 MW only. The generators above 1 MW can avail Open Access.
The explanatory ruling came as a result of responding to a petition filed by Cleanmax Solar to grant net metering permission for a 991 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project at Asahi India glass limited situated at MIDC – Taloja, Raigad Maharashtra. Asahi was a customer of MSEDCL with a contract demand of 7500 kVA connected at 100 kV. Asahi also availed partial open access at 3,000 kVA from traditional energy under a group captive arrangement from Sai Wardha Power Generation Limited. In 2017, Asahi made an application for Net Metering arrangement for the Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic system under the rooftop solar regulations 2015.
After listening to both the party’s petition the commission came to a decision that…
“Net metering and Open Access are two different sets of arrangements for different eligible consumers and its Regulatory framework also has been provided by the two different Regulations. If these two arrangements are mixed up then there are various issues related to Grid security, accounting, billing, settlement etc. Hence, the Commission has made Net Metering Regulations for “below 1 MW” and Open Access for “1 MW and above” and cannot avail simultaneously by same consumer”.
Hence denying Cleanmax’s plea.
One of the reasons for the commission to take this decision was their concern for grid security due to which the DISCOMs would have to go into distribution network contingencies and other related issues to Open Access and Net Metering Simultaneously.