To simplify the vendor registration procedure for the National Portal for Rooftop Solar, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy notified that vendors can register for an entire state covering the jurisdictions of all distribution companies (DISCOM) by submitting a performance bank guarantee (PBG) of ₹250,000 (~$3,021).

The registration would be extended yearly without additional charges. The vendor, however, should have extended the previously submitted PBG for another year or submitted a new PBG. In any case, the PBG submitted by the vendor will be valid for at least five years from the registration or renewal date.

If a vendor has submitted PBGs to more than one power distribution company (DISCOM)  with a state under the old procedure, only ₹250,000 (~$3,021) should be retained. The remaining PBG should be returned to the vendor within three months or at the time of renewal of registration. However, the registered vendor will be asked to renew the retained PBG for another year.

State governments can authorize a DISCOM or a state nodal agency to collect the PBG from the vendors on behalf of all DISCOMs. The DISCOM/Agency collecting the PBG will register the vendors and provide a list of registered vendors (updated periodically) to other DISCOMs for uploading them on their respective national portal accounts.

The Ministry directed all the state governments/DISCOMs to notify the revised procedure before June 17, 2023.

In January, the Ministry increased the central financial assistance for residential rooftop solar consumers of northeastern states, along with hilly states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Last October, MNRE extended Phase II of the ‘Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program’ until March 31, 2026. The program has been extended without any enhancement of the approved outlay of ₹118.14 billion (~$1.66 billion) for both the residential segment (Component A) and distribution companies (Component B).

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