Preamble - ELECTRICITY (RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS) (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2021

ELECTRICITY (RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS) (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2021

PREAMBLE

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (z) of sub-section (2) of section 176 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, further to amend the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, namely:-

Rule 1 - Short title and commencement

(1) These rules may be called the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) (Amendment) Rules, 2021.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Rule 2 - Rule 2

The following definitions may be added in sub-rule to the Rule 2 of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020.

(ia) "Gross-metering" means a mechanism whereby the total solar energy generated from Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV system of a Prosumer and the total energy consumed by the Prosumer are accounted separately through appropriate metering arrangements. For the billing purpose, the total energy consumed by the Prosumer is accounted at the applicable retail tariff and total solar power generated is accounted for at feed-in tariff determined by the Commission.

(ja) "Net-metering" means a mechanism whereby solar energy exported to the Grid from Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV system of a Prosumer is deducted from energy imported from the Grid in units (kWh) to arrive at the net imported/exported energy. The net energy import (or export) is billed (or credited/carried-over) by the distribution licensee on the basis of the applicable retail tariff. A single bidirectional energy meter shall be used for net-metering at the point of supply.

(jb) "Net-billing or net feed-in": A single bidirectional energy meter shall be used for net-billing or net feed-in at the point of supply. The energy imported from the Grid and energy exported from Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV system of a Prosumer are valued at two different tariffs. The monetary value of the imported energy is based on the applicable retail tariff. The monetary value of the exported solar energy is based on feed-in tariff determined by the Commission. The monetary value of the exported energy is deducted from the monetary value of the imported energy to arrive at the net amount to be billed (or credited/carried-over).

Rule 3 - Rule 3

Sub-rule (4) of rule 11 of the Principal Rules may be substituted as:

"11 (4) The arrangements for net metering/gross metering/net billing or net feed-in shall be as specified by the State Commission by regulation from time to time.

Provided that where ever the regulations does not provide for net-metering/net billing or net feed-in, the Commission may allow net metering to the prosumer for loads up to five hundred kW or upto the sanctioned load, whichever is lower and net-billing or net feed-in for other loads.

In the case of Prosumers availing net-billing or net feed-in, Commissions may introduce time-of-the-day (ToD) tariffs whereby Prosumers are incentivised to install energy storage so that stored solar energy can be utilised by them or fed into the grid during peak hours thus helping the grid by participating in demand response of the Discoms.

In case of net-metering/net-billing or net feed-in, the distribution licensee may install a solar energy meter to measure the gross solar energy generated from the Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV system for the purpose of Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation (RPO) credit, if any.

Commissions may permit gross metering for Prosumers who would like to sell all the generated solar energy to the distribution licensee instead of availing the net-metering/net-billing or net feed-in facility. The feed-in tariff for gross metering shall be decided by the Commission as per tariff regulations notified for this purpose."

Rule 4 - Rule 4

Sub rule (13) of the Principal Rules may be substituted as:

The solar energy generated by Prosumer shall be adjusted against energy consumed and/or bill amount as per regulations prescribed by the Commission for Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV system.