PSERC (Punjab) Finalizes Solar Rooftop (Net Metering) Regulation

The Punjab Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has recently (on 7^th May 2015) finalized the Net Metering Regulation for Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Systems. The regulation will allow electricity consumers of the state to generate solar energy and to consume such generate energy for their internal use and to feed the remaining surplus solar energy into the distribution system. The regulation will come in force from the date of publication of the same in official gazette.
The main features of the regulation are given in the points below:

• The solar rooftop system to be installed can be self owned system or a third party owned system.
• The solar rooftop systems shall be of Min. 1kWp capacity and Max. 1Mwp capacity with or without battery backup.
•  The Discom shall offer the provision of Net Metering to the consumer who intends to install rooftop systems on first come first serve basis.
•  A maximum cumulative capacity at a particular distribution transformer shall not exceed 30% of the rated capacity of the distribution transformer.
• The capacity of an individual rooftop PV system shall not exceed 80% of the sanctioned load of the consumer.
• The energy accounting and settlement will be done based on the reading of the bidirectional meters.
• The cost of installation of the bidirectional meters will be borne by the consumer and shall be maintained and installed by distribution licensee.
• Any energy credits of a consumer from previous months will be carried forward to next billing period and will be set to zero after the settlement period.
• The electricity generated from solar rooftop systems shall not be more than 90% of the total energy consumption of any consumer in a settlement period. No payment shall be made by the distribution licensee, beyond this limit.
• The quantum of energy consumed from the rooftop system will be considered towards the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) of Distribution licensee if the consumer is not an obligated entity.
• The rooftop systems shall be exempted from payment of wheeling, banking and cross subsidy surcharge applicable under PSERC (Terms & Conditions for Intra-State Open Access) Regulations, 2011, as amended from time to time.
• The eligibility for availing benefits of REC mechanism shall be as per CERC REC Regulation 2010.

PSERC earlier notified its draft regulation and invited comments from stake holders and interested parties, following that the commission has finalized the regulation. The regulation seems to be a good sign for development of solar energy in the state as the PEDA (Punjab Energy Development Agency) has already announced its policy for rooftop solar energy systems.
The regulation can be accessed here.