The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has included virtual net metering provisions in the Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating System (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2024.

The virtual net metering provisions will help consumers of multistorey residential buildings who find installing rooftop solar in common spaces difficult.

The Commission has provided the provision of Open Access Charges and Losses for sourcing renewable energy under virtual net metering.

However, to promote virtual net metering in its initial roll-out phase, the Commission has exempted Open Access Charges and Losses until the rooftop solar capacity reaches 5,000 MW. After crossing the 5,000 MW, open access charges will apply for new installations using the wheeling facility.

As per the new provisions, the Commission placed restrictions on multiple residential consumers within the same housing complex coming together to set up a renewable energy-generating system.

Other consumer categories must opt for net metering, group metering, or green energy open access.

The Commission has also reworded the renewable energy meter to renewable energy generation meter in the draft regulations.

In housing complexes, the Commission suggested that instead of taking separate connections for the rooftop energy generating system, one of the existing connections can act as a net-metering connection, and surplus energy from that connection can be adjusted against other participating consumers in a pre-specified ratio.

The Commissions may also introduce time-of-the-day tariffs under which prosumers are incentivized to install energy storage for utilization of stored solar energy by them or to feed into the grid during peak hours.

Recently, MERC ordered the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company to compensate a developer for the increased cost of the project due to the basic customs duty on solar cells and modules.

The Commission also approved Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s petition to procure 5,000 MW of solar and 1,600 MW of thermal power.