The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has extended the validity of the additional surcharge of ₹1.16 (~$0.016)/kWh payable by open access consumers until September 30, 2021, to the second half (2H) of the financial year (FY) 2021-22.

The surcharge of ₹1.16 (~$0.016)/kWh will be valid from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, until the final order for the period is issued.

In May this year, PSERC had set an additional surcharge payable by consumers availing power through open access in the state. For open access consumers (partial or full) availing power beyond the contract demand maintained with the distribution licensee, the additional surcharge was determined as ₹1.16 (~$0.016)/kWh. Partial open access consumers availing power up to the contract demand had to pay ₹0.83 (~$0.011)/kWh as the additional surcharge. The charges were applicable until September 30, 2021.

The additional surcharge would be levied on consumers within the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s (PSPCL) supply area.

This year, PSERC issued the tariff order for FY 2021-22. Keeping in view the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission decided to reduce the tariffs for residential consumers with load up to 2 kW and consumption slabs of 0 to 100 units and 101 units to 300 units by ₹1 (~$0.014)/kWh and ₹0.50 (~$0.007)/kWh, respectively. The tariffs for both the categories have been set as ₹3.49 (~$0.048)/kWh and ₹5.84 (~$0.081)/kWh.

The additional surcharge payable by open access consumers varies across states.

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission recently revised the additional surcharge to ₹0.69 (~$0.009)/kWh payable by open access consumers from ₹0.51 (~$0.007)/kWh. The additional surcharge will apply from October 2021 to March 2022.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission had approved a petition filed by the distribution company for an additional surcharge of ₹0.70 (~$0.0093)/kWh, payable by open access consumers.

India’s solar open access installations totaled 209 MW in the second quarter (Q2) of 2021, a 664% year-over-year (YoY) increase compared to 27 MW in the same period last year, according to Mercom’s India Solar Open Access Market Report Q2 2021.

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Mercom’s Solar Forum 2021, to be held on October 21, has an exclusive session – “Open Access Solar – an Ideal Solution to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Operating Costs for C&I Entities.” The panel discussion will bring opinions from developers, consumers, facility owners, and new ideas and suggestions to make open access favorable to all. To attend, register here.