The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has announced an additional surcharge of ₹0.60 (~$0.008)/kWh for consumers’ sourcing power through open access for the period between October 01, 2020, and March 31, 2021. The charge would apply to anyone who acquires power through open access from any source other than their respective DISCOMs.

The Commission said the additional surcharge would apply to consumers of four state distribution companies (DISCOMS) – Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), and the Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL).

The Commission said that it has been working out additional surcharges on a six-month basis on data provided by the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL). It had directed the GUVNL to provide this data every six months (for the period between April -September of each year and October – March of the subsequent year) within 30 days of the completion of this period.

Background

The state had previously determined additional surcharges of ₹0.37 (~$0.0049)/kWh for the period of April 01, 2020, to September 30, 2020. This additional surcharge was also applicable to consumers of the four state-owned DISCOMs. The Commission had previously determined the additional surcharge of ₹0.10/ ($0.0013)/kWh for the period of October 01, 2019, to March 31, 2020, based on the data furnished by GUVNL for the period between October 01, 2018, to March 31, 2019.

In October 2018, the GERC had issued an order stating that an additional surcharge of ₹0.44 (~$0.0060)/kWh will be applicable in case of open access consumers who avail power through open access from any source other than their respective distribution companies and for open access transactions from October 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019.

Then in 2019, it passed an order stating that no additional surcharge will apply to consumers of four of Gujarat’s DISCOMs for utilizing power through open access between April and September 2019.