The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has amended its net metering regulations passed in the year 2015 for rooftop and small solar grid interactive systems.

The new regulations will come into force from the date of publishing in the Official Gazette of Rajasthan.

The commission has now included a provision on the payment to domestic consumers with net-metered rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for the electricity injected. The RERC has also included a provision on what happens if the consumers leave the net-metering system.

Key Highlights

• In the event the electricity injected by a domestic category consumer exceeds the electricity consumed during the billing period, such excess injected electricity above 100 units will be paid by the distribution licensee/company (DISCOM) at the rate of ₹3.14 (~$0.04)/kWh.”
• According to RERC for such a scenario, a cap on the average generation of 4.8 units per kW of the approved installed capacity per day of the rooftop solar PV system will be applicable.
• For domestic category, the net energy credits less than 100 units under net metering achieved in the particular billing period will be adjusted in the next billing period until credit of 100 units is achieved.
• In case of consumers, other than the domestic category, the capping of 4.8 units per kW of the approved, installed capacity per day will also be applicable and the net surplus electricity remaining available at the end of the billing period of the respective category will lapse, and no payment will be made.
• When an eligible consumer leaves the system, that consumer’s unused credits for excess energy generated will lapse and no payments will be made.

Through the amended regulations, the RERC has provided an “Energy Accounting and Settlement” mechanism. While amending the regulations, the state body was of the view that the tariff determined through the auctions for mega solar power projects cannot be made applicable for rooftop solar projects because these come in lower kilowatt capacities with higher capital costs for such projects. RERC had issued the draft regulations in December 2018.