The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has issued a draft order regarding the review of benchmark capital cost for solar PV, solar thermal, grid-interactive rooftop, and small solar PV projects to be applicable for the financial year (FY) 2019-20.

The UERC has invited comments on the draft order from all the stakeholders until January 12, 2019.

In its order, the UERC has proposed a capital cost of ₹40.04 million (~$0.56 million)/MW for solar PV projects to be commissioned on or after April 1, 2019. The proposed capital cost is ₹1.22 million (~$17,000)/MW less than the capital cost of ₹38.82 million (~$0.54 million)/MW fixed for solar PV projects in Uttarakhand for FY 2018-19.

For solar PV projects for FY 2019-20, UERC has fixed the tariff at ₹4.62 (~$0.064)/kWh, which is ₹0.14 (~$0.002)/kWh more than the benchmark tariff of ₹4.48 (~$0.07)/kWh for solar PV for FY 2018-19.

The commission has proposed to adopt the benchmark capital cost of ₹120 million (~$1.67 million)/MW for solar thermal projects to be commissioned on or after April 1, 2019. UERC has fixed ₹13.38 (~$0.19)/kWh as benchmark tariff for solar thermal for FY 2019-20. This is ₹0.12 (~$0.001)/kWh more than the benchmark tariff of ₹13.26 (~$0.18)/kWh for solar thermal in FY 2018-19.

For rooftop solar and small solar projects up to 10 kW, the UERC has proposed tariff of ₹5.83 (~$0.08)/kWh for FY 2019-20. This is ₹0.21 (~$0.003)/kWh more than the generic tariff of ₹5.62 (~$0.078)/kWh fixed for FY 2018-19.

For rooftop solar and small solar projects of capacity more than 10 kW and up to 100 kW, the commission has proposed a tariff of ₹5.28 (~$0.073)/kWh for FY 2019-20. This is ₹0.19 (~$0.003)/kWh more than the generic tariff of ₹5.09 (~$0.07)/kWh fixed for FY 2018-19.

For rooftop solar and small solar projects of capacity more than 100 kW and up to 500 kW, the commission has proposed a tariff of ₹4.91 (~$0.068)/kWh for FY 2019-20. This is ₹0.19 (~$0.003)/kWh more than the generic tariff of ₹4.72 (~$0.065)/kWh fixed for FY 2018-19.

For rooftop solar and small solar projects of capacity more than 500 kW and up to 1,000 kW, the commission has proposed a tariff of ₹4.65 (~$0.064)/kWh for FY 2019-20. This is ₹0.15 (~$0.002)/kWh more than the generic tariff of ₹4.51 (~$0.06)/kWh fixed for FY 2018-19.

If and when finalized, these tariffs will serve as the upper tariff ceilings for solar procurement through auctions in the state of Uttarakhand.

Recently the UERC also introduced a cross-subsidy surcharge for open access consumers in the state.

Back in April 2018, the commission also released draft tariff regulations for the supply of electricity from renewable energy sources and non-fossil fuel based co-generating stations for the year 2018. The agency also set renewable purchase obligations (RPO) through  to FY 2022-23.