The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has issued the Draft Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2024.

The Commission has invited stakeholders to submit feedback on the draft by July 2, 2024.

These rules apply to Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) sought by licensees, green energy generators, and consumers with a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more through a single connection or multiple connections within the same electricity division.

These regulations aim to facilitate non-discriminatory open access to green energy for utilizing Intra-State Transmission System(s) (InSTS) and/or distribution system of licensees within the State, including Intra-State Transmission or distribution system related to Inter-State Transmission of electricity.

They include provisions for granting open access, determining open access charges, and determining banking charges for consumers who are availing green energy open access.

Criteria for Permitting Green Energy Open Access

I. Long-Term Green Energy Open Access will be granted based on adherence to the transmission planning criteria and distribution planning code outlined in the State Grid Code.

II. Short-Term/Medium-Term Green Energy Open Access will be approved if the request can be accommodated by utilizing:

-Inherent design margins

-Margins available due to variations in power flows

-Margins available due to spare transmission system capacity and/or distribution system capacity built to accommodate future load growth

III. Installation of energy meters, specifically ABT-compliant meters at the generator’s end and at the consumer’s end, for requests of 1 MW and above. For consumers seeking open access below 1 MW, installation of Special Energy Meters capable of recording energy on a 15-minute time block basis is required.

IV. No outstanding dues owed to the licensee concerned and/or SNA (System Network Agency).

Classification of Green Energy Open Access

Green Energy Open Access consumers are categorized based on the duration of their usage of the intra-state transmission and/or distribution system:

I. Long-term Green Energy Open Access: Entitles users to the intra-state transmission and/or distribution system for over seven years but not exceeding 25 years.

II. Medium-term Green Energy Open Access: Grants the right to utilize the intra-state transmission and/or distribution system for a duration exceeding three months but not extending beyond five years.

III. Short-Term Green Energy Open Access: Allows open access for up to one month.

Upon the expiration of a granted Short-term Green Open Access, consumers must file a fresh application to continue to avail the service.

Application Procedure

I. All Green Energy Open Access applications must be submitted in the prescribed format along with necessary documents and fees, if applicable, to the Nodal agency as per the Regulations.

II. Applicants seeking Green Energy Open Access must provide an undertaking stating that they have not entered into more than one power purchase agreement (PPA) or any other bilateral agreement for the capacity for which Green Energy Open Access is sought.

Eligibility Criteria

I. Consumers with a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more, either through a single connection or multiple connections totaling 100 kW or more within the same area of a distribution licensee, are eligible for Open Access to source Green Energy under these Regulations.

II. Captive consumers have no load limitations regarding contract demand/sanctioned load with Discoms.

III. Consumers, licensees, and/or generating companies are eligible for Green Energy Open Access to the intra-State Transmission System of the State Transmission Utility or any Transmission Licensee(s) and/or Distribution System(s) of the Distribution Licensee within the State, subject to the Regulations and system availability.

IV. Every person who has constructed a captive generating plant can avail open access as per the provisions of the Electricity Act, Rules, Regulations, and Orders of the Commission.

Allotment Priority

Distribution licensees have the highest priority over other Green Energy Open Access consumers. Green Energy Open Access consumers have a preference over regular Open Access consumers in the same category. Priority is given to Long-Term Green Energy Open Access consumers, followed by Medium-Term and Short-Term Green Energy Open Access consumers, subject to system capacity availability.

Procedure for Grant of Green Energy Open Access

The applicant must submit a complete application as specified by the Central Nodal Agency on the central portal. The application will be forwarded to the State Nodal Agency for verification and decision within 15 days.

Applicants must access the Central Portal to apply for Day Ahead Green Energy Open Access Transactions. The State Nodal Agency must convey approval or denial to the applicant before the day of scheduling for the transaction. A non-refundable processing fee of ₹5000 (~$59.84) per transaction is applicable.

Banking Facility and Charges

The provision for banking facility for consumers availing Green Energy Open Access is outlined as follows:

• Consumers are permitted to utilize the banking facility, which refers to the surplus green energy injected into the grid on a 15-minute time block basis. This surplus energy is credited to the distribution licensee by the Green Energy Open Access consumers and can be drawn upon, along with charges to compensate the distribution licensee.
• Energy banking is assessed for energy accounting on a 15-minute time block basis. The difference between the injected energy from the green energy generator available at the consumption point and the consumer’s actual consumption in the same 15-minute time block is considered banked energy.
• Banked energy consumption is allowed on a billing cycle basis. During the billing cycle, any banked energy available during peak periods (as specified in the Tariff Orders of the Commission) can be utilized during both peak and off-peak periods by the Green Energy Open Access consumer.
• The quantum of banked energy permitted for Green Energy Open Access consumers must be at least 30% of the total electricity consumption from the distribution licensee during the billing period.
• The Banking Charge, calculated at 8% of the banked energy, is adjusted accordingly.
• In cases where the generator is situated within or outside the State and connected with the Inter-State Transmission System/Grid, the banking facility is governed by applicable CERC Regulations and MoP Rules.
• The credit for banked energy cannot be carried forward to subsequent billing cycles and must be adjusted within the same billing cycle as per the regulations.
• Unutilized surplus banked energy is considered lapsed at the end of each billing cycle, and the renewable energy generating station is entitled to receive Renewable Energy Certificates for the lapsed banked energy.

These provisions ensure efficient utilization and management of surplus green energy injected into the grid by Green Energy Open Access consumers.

Metering

Green Energy Open Access consumers with a contract demand of 1 MW and above must provide ABT-compliant meters. Consumers with demand below 1 MW can use special energy meters capable of energy recording on a 15-minute time block basis.

These regulations aim to ensure fair access to green energy and efficient energy transmission and distribution system management.

Recently, DERC approved the Battery Energy Storage System agreement between BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL) and Kilokari BESS to establish a 20MW/40MWh energy storage project.

In May last year, DERC proposed amending the State’s net metering regulations for renewable energy to provide greater flexibility to prosumers and consumers by enabling peer-to-peer transactions through blockchain or other technologies.

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