The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has worked out an additional surcharge of ₹0.37 (~$0.0049)/kWh for the period of April 01, 2020, to September 30, 2020, for consumers utilizing power through open access.

This additional surcharge will apply to consumers of four state-owned DISCOMs. These DISCOMs are Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL).

Earlier, the GERC had decided on the applicability of additional surcharge for open access consumers. The state commission had directed GUVNL to furnish data for six months between October to March and April to September within 30 days of the completion of the period.

The Commission had last 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 of October 01, 2018, to March 31, 2019. The GUVNL had submitted the data from April 01, 2019, to September 30, 2019, for the determination of additional surcharge for the period of April 01, 2020, to September 30, 2020.

In May last year, the GERC had 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. The Gujarat commission, through this order, had to decide the applicability of additional surcharge to the open access consumers, a methodology for the computation of the surcharge, and the rate of surcharge applicable for the period.

Earlier, Mercom had reported that 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 (DISCOMs) and for open access transactions from October 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019.

In 2018, the state 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.