The Chhattisgarh Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has defined the tariff for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and intra-state open access for the financial year (FY) 2020-21.

The regulations will be applicable from June 01, 2020.

The low voltage tariff (non-domestic) will also be applicable for EV charging centers for vehicles. According to the regulations, for charging stations for electric vehicles, a flat rate single part tariff of ₹5 (~$0.067)/kWh will be applicable.

The high voltage tariff will be applicable for bulk supply of power at one point to establishments such as railways, hospitals, offices, hotels, and EV charging stations, among others having a mixed load or non-industrial, or non-residential load. Under this category also, the tariff has been set at ₹5 (~$0.067)/kWh for charging stations.

As per the regulations, captive generation projects which have co-located industrial load and have not availed start-up connection but draw start-up power from the grid will be charged at ₹12 (~$0.16)/kVAh. Renewable generators (biomass and small hydro) will be exempted from paying the demand charge for the first five years from the date of the commercial operation of the project.

If a biomass-based generator has used biomass in a ratio lesser than what’s prescribed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) during any financial year in the first five years, then the demand charge will be payable for the whole year.

Industries Manufacturing Equipment Used for Generating Power from Renewable Sources

Demand charge of ₹110 ($1.5)/kVA/month and energy charge of ₹3.70 ($0.5)/kVAh/month applies to consumers availing supply at 220/132/33/11 kV for the manufacturing of machinery and equipment used for the generation of power from renewable sources. This will include the manufacturing of hydel turbine, generator, and related auxiliaries needed for small hydel projects up to 25 MW. This tariff will not be applicable for the manufacturing of common machines and equipment such as electrical motors, structural items, and nuts bolts, which can be used for other purposes also.

Intra-State Open Access Charges for Renewable Energy Transactions

No transmission, wheeling, and state load despatch charges in cash will be levied for long-term, medium-term, or short-term open access within the state.

The total transmission or wheeling charges or a combination of both in kind (energy losses) for the short term, medium term, or short-term open access will be 6%.

In case a generating company is an open access customer and is supplying power to a consumer of the state, the liability of paying cross-subsidy surcharge will be on the consumer. If a captive generation project avails open access for supplying power to its captive users, and if the captive users do not fulfill the requirement of captive users in a financial year, then the end-user will be liable to pay the cross-subsidy surcharge.

The cross-subsidy surcharge payable for renewables will be 50% of the general cross-subsidy surcharge determined for the year.

• For 220 kV/132 kV, consumers will have to pay ₹0.65 (~$0.008)/kWh (which is 50% of the computed value of ₹1.46 (~$0.19)/kWh)
• For 33 kV, consumers will have to pay ₹0.57 (~$0.007)/kWh (which is 50% of the computed value of ₹1.26 (~$0.17)/kWh)

In the case of a consumer gets solar power through open access, no cross-subsidy surcharge will be payable. If a biomass-based power project supplying power to the consumer has used lesser biomass than the prescribed ratio, then the relaxations given to the open access consumer will be withdrawn for that financial year.

Recently, CSERC issued an amendment to its regulation for captive generation projects. These regulations deal with the renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets to be achieved by obligated entities as a percentage of total consumption.

Earlier, the state revised the late payment surcharges for fixed electricity bills payable by industrial and commercial establishments. The Commission revised late payment surcharges to 1% per month on the outstanding amount for cases where the bill was not paid before the due date. This applied to all bill payments falling between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. Earlier, the surcharge was 1.5% per month. The consumers covered under this relief measure include non-domestic consumers, agriculture allied activities, industry, railway traction, mines, other industrial and general-purpose non-industrial, and steel industries. The Commission noted that this relief would, however, not apply to consumers who are willing and able to pay their bills on time.