A revision in policy on part of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is putting domestic consumers’ aspiration to maximise gains from rooftop solar in jeopardy, as Discom has linked total installed capacity to average consumption of last one year. Crying foul, All India Renewable Energy Association (AIREA) said, the move is unilateral and the State-run Discom is trying to stifle the capacity addition on renewable energy front by imposing unjust conditions. In fact, as per rules, Discom needs nod from Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC) if it wants to alter the rules pertaining to rooftop solar in domestic consumers’ segment. AIREA said, so far, it has not come across any such notification by MERC viz the change undertaken by Discom.

 

AIREA Maharashtra Unit has approached Central Government seeking intervention to set right the ground situation in State stating that MSEDCL move would impact 50 to 60 per cent consumers and ultimately drive out the solar vendors from business. Sudhir Budhay, an expert in renewable energy sector, said, MSEDCL is happy at milking the consumers on all fronts, as when it comes to billing the demand, charges are levied on sanctioned load, but as to approval for solar capacity, the Discom is linking it to past consumption. While MSEDCL might have a different take on renewable energy front than the national policy, but it cannot act in unilaterally way by bending the rules to their own benefit, AIREA has said, saying same is against the rules notified by MERC and also violates the net metering regulations. Plus in the Electricity Act, any citizen is at liberty to generate power for own use, barring nuclear and hydro.

 

AIREA, in a letter addressed to J V N Subramanyam, Joint Secretary (MNRE) and Mission Director - PMSGY, pointed out that since February 13, solar vendors are unable to get desired solar capacity approval for consumers under PM Surya Ghar Yojana. They pointed out that consumers opt for solar capacity not only on basis of their current demand, but considering future needs also. So, the fiat by MSEDCL on sanctioning solar capacity on past 12 months average consumption would have big impact on the demand. Particularly, in Maharashtra, due to exorbitant power rates, consumers tend to opt for higher solar load to adjust for the increased use during peak summer season. Further, current demand would only increase in future as people have an option from an array of power gadgets, electric vehicles, appliances using power and in future, many consumer would increase house area and in such cases, they would be at loss in case Discom limits their solar load to average consumption, AIREA said in its letter. Not only this, MSEDCL is also not giving auto load extension to 10 kW under PM Surya Ghar Yojana as initiated by MNRE, said J K Suri, Director, AIREA, and Avtar Patel, Director, AIREA, in their letter.

 

Meanwhile, Budhay said, Discom move would greatly impact the larger green energy set-ups and also undermine the principle of solar banking. Previously, MSEDCL similarly had changed the rules in solar sector commercial and industrial sector, which has left the vendor in dire straits as fresh intake capacity had been greatly hit. The ultimate impact would be felt in Maharashtra that accounts for 25 per cent of India’s rooftop solar applications and is one of the fastest growing markets, AIREA further stated.