The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has issued an order stating that the benchmark capital cost and levelized generic tariff, issued in June 2019, will continue to be applicable until September 30, 2020.

Referring to the government’s decision to further extend the lockdown period with certain relaxations, the Commission stated that the commercial activities concerning the development of solar energy-based power projects might take some time to get normalized.

The UERC stated that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the global supply chain of solar power modules had been affected, resulting in non-availability of generalized data of module prices. Further, all construction activities, along with other commercial activities, have been disrupted for the solar power developers, the Commission noted.

Last year in June, the Commission had determined the benchmark capital cost and tariff for solar photovoltaic, solar thermal power, grid-interactive rooftop, and small solar PV power projects commissioned between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

The benchmark cost was set at ₹35.63 million (~$447,190)/MW for large-scale solar projects.

The Commission had determined the gross levelized tariff of ₹4.49 (~$0.06)/kWh for large-scale solar projects and accelerated depreciation (AD) of ₹0.24 (~$0.003)/kWh for projects commissioned on or after April 1, 2019.

For the financial year (FY) 2018-19, the gross levelized tariff for solar PV projects was ₹4.73 ($0.068)/kWh with an AD of ₹0.25 ($0.003)/kWh.

Recently, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) extended the validity of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (CERC) Renewable Energy Tariff Regulations, 2017, and the Levelized generic tariffs for renewable projects for FY 2019-2020 for another three months (Until June 30, 2020).

Previously, Mercom reported that the CERC extended the applicability of the Renewable Energy Tariff Regulations, 2017, for three months (from April 01, 2020, to June 30, 2020). The Commission also noted that the generic tariff issued by the Commission in the order dated March 19, 2019, will continue to remain in force until June 30, 2020. According to the regulations, the tariff period for renewable energy power projects will be the same as their useful life, and the tariff period under these regulations will be considered from the date of commercial operation of the renewable energy generating stations.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.