In exercise of powers conferred
under Section 181 read with Section 61, 86(1)(e) of the Electricity Act, 2003
(36 of 2003) and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, the Punjab State
Electricity Regulatory Commission hereby makes the following regulations
namely: 1.1 These
Regulations may be called the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission
(Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic Systems) Regulations, 2021. 1.2 These
Regulations shall extend to the whole of the State of Punjab. 1.3 These
Regulations shall come into force from the date of publication of the same in
the official Gazette. In these Regulations, unless the
context otherwise requires. (a)
"Act" means the Electricity Act 2003 (36 of 2003), as
amended from time to time; (b)
"Agreement" means an agreement signed by the distribution
licensee with the eligible consumer; (c)
"Billing Cycle" or "Billing Period" means the
period for which regular electricity bills, as specified by the Commission, are
issued by the distribution licensee to different categories of consumers; (d)
"Commission" means the Punjab State Electricity
Regulatory Commission; (e)
"Consumer" means any person who is supplied with
electricity for his own use by a licensee or the Government or by any other
person engaged in the business of supplying electricity to the public under the
Act or any other law for the time being in force and includes any person whose
premises are for the time being connected for the purpose of receiving
electricity with the works of distribution licensee, the Government or such
other person, as the case may be; (f)
"Contract Demand" means the maximum demand in kVA (kilo
Volt Ampere) sanctioned to the consumer and computed in the manner as approved
by the Commission; (g)
"Days" means clear working days; (h)
"Distribution Licensee" means a licensee authorized to operate
and maintain a distribution system for supplying electricity to the consumers
in his area of supply; (i)
"Eligible Consumer" means a consumer of electricity in
the area of supply of distribution licensee, who uses or intends to use a
rooftop SPV system installed in his premises to offset part or all or no part
of the own electrical requirements, given that such systems can be 'self owned'
or 'third party owned; (j)
"Financial Year" or "Year" means period
beginning from first day of April and ending with thirty first day of March of
next year in English Calendar Year; (k)
"Generation Meter" means a unidirectional energy meter
to measure the electricity generated by Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) system, for
the purpose of accounting and settlement; (l)
"GoP" means Government of Punjab in the Department of
New and Renewable Energy; (m)
"Gross-metering" means a mechanism whereby the total
solar energy generated from Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic system
of a Prosumer and the total energy consumed by the Prosumer are accounted
separately through appropriate metering arrangements and 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 approved by the Commission; (n)
"Interconnection Point" means the interface of rooftop
solar power generation facility with the outgoing terminal of the
meter/distribution licensee's switchgear fixed in the premises of the Eligible
Consumer; Provided that, in case of an
Eligible Consumer connected at the High Tension (HT) level, the
inter-connection point shall mean the interface of the rooftop SPV system with
the outgoing terminals of the distribution licensee's metering cubicle placed
before such consumer's apparatus; (o)
"Invoice" means the monthly bill or a supplementary bill
or a monthly invoice or a supplementary invoice raised by the distribution
licensee to the consumer; (p)
"kWp" means kilo Watt peak; (q)
"Net-billing or net feed-in" means a single
bidirectional energy meter used for net-billing or net feed-in at the point of
supply wherein the energy imported from the Grid and energy exported from Grid
Interactive rooftop Solar photovoltaic system of a Prosumer are valued at two
different tariffs, where- (i)
the monetary value of the imported energy is based on the
applicable retail tariff; (ii)
the monetary value of the exported solar energy is based on
feed-in tariff determined by the Commission; (iii)
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); (r)
"Net Meter" means a bidirectional energy meter capable
of recording both import and export of electricity; (s)
"Net-metering" means a mechanism whereby solar energy
exported to the Grid from Grid Interactive rooftop Solar Photovoltaic system of
a Prosumer is deducted from energy imported from the Grid in units (kWh) to
arrive at the net imported or exported energy and the net energy import or
export is billed or credited or carried-over by the distribution licensee on
the basis of the applicable retail tariff by using a single bidirectional
energy meter for net-metering at the point of supply; (t)
"Obligated Entity" means the entity mandated by the
Commission under clause (e) of sub section (1) of section 86 of the Act to
fulfill the renewable purchase obligation and identified under PSERC (Renewable
Purchase Obligation & its compliance) Regulations, 2011, as amended from
time to time; (u)
"Premises" means roof tops or/and any area on the land,
building or infrastructure or part or combination thereof in respect of which a
separate meter or metering arrangement have been made by the distribution
licensee for the supply of electricity; (v)
"Prosumer" is a person who consumes electricity from the
grid and can also inject electricity into the grid for the distribution
licensee using the same point of supply; (w)
"Renewable Energy Certificate" (REC) means the
certificate issued in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for recognition &
issuance of Renewable Energy Certificate for Renewable Energy Generation)
Regulations, 2010 as amended from time to time; (x)
"Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO)" means an
energy service company which owns a renewable energy system and provides
renewable energy to the consumer; Provided that the distribution
licensee may act as a RESCO. However, this business shall be treated as other
business of the distribution licensee; (y)
"Rooftop Solar System" means the Solar Photo Voltaic
system installed in the premises of the consumer that uses solar energy for
direct conversion into electricity through photo voltaic technology; (z)
"Sanctioned Load" means the load in kW (kilowatt), or
BHP (Break Horse Power), agreed to be supplied by the licensee and indicated in
the A&A Form executed between the distribution licensee and the consumer; (za)
"Settlement Period" means the period beginning from first day of
October in an English calendar year and ending with thirtieth day of September
of next year; (zb)
"Supply Code" means the PSERC (Electricity Supply Code & Related
Matters) Regulations, 2014, as amended from time to time; (zc)
"Tariff Order" in respect of a licensee means the Order issued by the
Commission for the relevant year for that licensee indicating the rates to be
charged by the licensee from various categories of consumers for supply of
electrical energy and for other services; (zd) All
other words and expressions used in the Regulation although not specifically
defined herein above, but defined in the Act (Electricity Act, 2003) shall have
the meaning assigned to them in the Act; (ze) All
other words and expressions used herein but not specifically defined in these
regulations and the Act but defined in any other law passed by the
Parliament/State Assembly or regulations framed under the Act, shall have the
meaning assigned to them in such law/regulations. 3.1 These
Regulations shall apply to: (a)
Net Metering arrangements; (b)
Net Billing arrangements; (c)
Gross Metering arrangements. Provided that the eligible
consumer can opt for only one arrangement i.e. either net metering or
net-billing or gross metering, as specified in these Regulations. 3.2 These
Regulations do not preclude the right of any person to undertake renewable
energy projects through alternative mechanism. 3.3 These
Regulations shall be applicable to all Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic Systems for
which applications are received on or after notification of these regulations
except Regulation 19 which shall also be applicable to Rooftop Solar Photo
Voltaic Systems commissioned under the PSERC (Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar
Photo Voltaic Systems based on Net Metering) Regulations, 2015. Provided that these Regulations
shall also be applicable for applications received on or after notification of
these Regulations for enhancing the capacity of the already installed Rooftop
SPV systems by an existing consumer. 4.1 All
eligible consumers in the area of the supply of the distribution licensee can
participate in the Rooftop SPV system under net metering or net billing or
gross metering arrangements on a non-discriminatory and distribution
transformer-wise or feeder-wise 'first come, first serve' basis subject to the
provisions as specified in these Regulations and shall be called prosumer. 4.2 The
maximum capacity of Rooftop SPV system (rated inverter capacity on AC side) to
be installed at any eligible consumer's premises except domestic category
consumers, shall not exceed 70 % of the sanctioned load (kW) or contract demand
of the consumer (in kVA converted to kW by using a power factor of 0.9). In
case of domestic consumers, the maximum capacity of Rooftop SPV systems shall
not exceed the sanctioned load (kW) or contract demand of the consumer (in kVA
converted to kW by using a power factor of 0.9); 4.3 The
maximum capacity of Rooftop SPV systems under Net-Metering shall not exceed 500
kWp. 4.4 The
maximum capacity of Rooftop SPV systems under Net-Billing or Gross Metering
shall be subject to the sanctioned load/contract demand as specified in
Regulation 4.2. 4.5 The
maximum Rooftop SPV system capacity to be installed at an Eligible Consumer's
premises shall be subject to the cumulative capacity of the relevant
Distribution Transformer/feeder, which has already been utilized, as specified
in Regulation 5.1; Provided that a variation in the
rated capacity of the system within a range of five percent shall be allowed. 4.6 The
minimum capacity of Rooftop SPV system under net metering or net billing
arrangements shall be 1 kWp for a single eligible consumer. Under gross
metering arrangements, the minimum capacity shall be 50 kWp for a single
eligible consumer. 5.1 The
distribution licensee shall allow Rooftop SPV systems to the eligible consumer
as long as the total capacity (in MW) of rooftop solar systems does not exceed
the target capacity determined by the Commission; Provided that initially, a
maximum cumulative capacity to be installed by eligible consumer in the area of
supply of each distribution licensee shall be as decided by the Commission.
Thereafter, the target capacity shall be reviewed on yearly basis by the
Commission; Provided further the cumulative
capacity of all Rooftop Solar System under these Regulations allowed to be
interconnected with the distribution network (distribution transformer/feeder
owned by the distribution licensee) shall not exceed 80% of the rated capacity
of the distribution transformer/feeder, as applicable. 5.2 The
distribution licensee shall provide information regarding distribution
transformer level capacity available for connecting rooftop solar system under
these Regulations within two months from the date of notification of these
Regulations. The distribution licensee thereafter shall update the distribution
transformer level capacity available and the cumulative capacity of the rooftop
solar systems installed under net metering and/or net billing arrangements on
yearly basis by 30th April and shall provide the information on its website as
well as to the Commission. 6.1 The
voltage level for interconnection with the grid shall be the voltage level at
which the consumer has been given supply by the distribution licensee in
accordance with the provisions of Supply Code, 2014, as amended from time to
time. 6.2 The
interconnection of the rooftop solar system with the network of the
distribution licensee shall conform to the standards as provided in CEA
(Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations, 2007, as
amended from time to time and CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity of the
Distributed Generation Resources) Regulations, 2013, as amended from time to
time, as applicable. 6.3 The
interconnection of the rooftop solar system with the distribution system of the
licensee shall conform to the relevant provisions of the Central Electricity Authority
(Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply), Regulations, 2010, as
amended from time to time. 6.4 The
grid interactive rooftop solar system may be installed with or without battery
backup: Provided that where the rooftop
solar system is installed with battery backup (full load backup/partial load
backup), the inverter shall have appropriate arrangement to prevent the battery
power to flow into the grid in the absence of grid supply and manual isolation
switch shall also be provided. 6.5 The consumer
shall be responsible for safe operation, maintenance and rectification of any
defect of the rooftop solar system upto the point of Net Meter beyond which the
responsibility of safe operation, maintenance and rectification of any defect
in the system, including the Net Meter, shall be that of the licensee. 6.6 The
rooftop solar system must be capable of detecting an unintended islanding
condition. The system must have anti-islanding protection to prevent any
feeding into the grid in case of failure of supply or the grid. Applicable
IEC/IEEE technical standards shall be followed to test islanding prevention
measure for grid connected inverters. 6.7 The
licensee shall have the right to disconnect the rooftop solar system at any
time to prevent any possible accident or damage to equipment, from such rooftop
solar system to its distribution system, without any notice. The distribution
licensee may call upon the prosumer to rectify the defect within a reasonable
time. 6.8 Every
Rooftop SPV systems shall be equipped with an automatic synchronization device. Provided that the Rooftop SPV
systems shall not be required to have separate synchronizing device if it is
inherently built into the inverter. 6.9 The
inverter shall have the features of filtering out harmonics and other
distortions before injecting the energy into the system of the distribution
licensee. The Total Voltage Harmonic Distortion (THD) and other distortions
shall be within the limits specified in the IEEE technical standards/BIS/Supply
Code, 2014 and/or as specified by the Authority. All equipments to be installed
under these regulations should conform to the applicable BIS/IEEE standards. 7.1 All
the meters installed at the Rooftop SPV system shall comply with the CEA (Installation
and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, as amended from time to time. 7.2 All
meters shall have Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) facility with RS 485
(or higher) communication port. 7.3 The
generation meter (a unidirectional meter) is required to be installed as an
integral part of the Rooftop SPV system at the point at which the electricity
is generated by SPV System and delivered to the main panel. 7.4 The
net metering equipment (Bi-directional meter) and the generation meter (unidirectional)
as per CEA Metering Regulations shall be installed and maintained by the
distribution licensee at the cost of the eligible consumer: Provided the eligible consumer
may procure the net meter/generation meter and present the same to the
distribution licensee for testing and installation as per Regulation 21.2 of
the Supply Code. In case meters are provided by the distribution licensee, the
consumer shall pay the entire cost of the meters. No meter rental shall be
charged from the consumer. The location of the meter shall be as per CEA
Metering Regulation. 7.5 In
case of Rooftop SPV system is set up under gross metering, an additional check
meter for generation meter of appropriate class shall be installed by the
distribution licensee. 7.6 The
distribution licensee shall undertake meter testing before installation to
ensure accuracy of the meters. 7.7 The
installed meters shall be jointly inspected and thereafter sealed by the
distribution licensee in the presence of the consumer. 7.8 If
the eligible consumer is under the ambit of Time of the Day (TOD) Tariff, both
the generation and net meter shall be capable of recording time of day
consumption/generation. 7.9 The
meter reading taken by the distribution licensee shall form the basis of
commercial settlement. (a)
The consumers shall be eligible to opt for Net Metering
arrangement as specified in Regulation 4. (b)
The consumer may set up Rooftop SPV system to offset the
consumer's electricity consumption from the distribution licensee. (c)
The Rooftop SPV system installed at the prosumer's premises
delivers excess electricity, if any, to the distribution licensee after
offsetting the electricity supplied by the distribution licensee during the
applicable billing period. (d)
The energy accounting and settlement under this arrangement shall
be in accordance with Regulation 12. The solar energy generated by the
SPV systems is consumed by the consumer with the surplus, if any, being exported
as in case of net-metering arrangements. However under net billing
arrangements, the monetary value of the imported energy from the grid is based
on the applicable retail tariff. The monetary value of the exported solar
energy to the grid is based on feed-in tariff approved 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). With the net billing mechanism only a single
bi-directional energy meter is needed as is done for net-metering. The
consumers may opt for Net Billing arrangement as specified in Regulation 4. The
energy accounting and settlement under this arrangement shall be in accordance
with Regulation 13. In case of gross metering, the
consumer does not consume the solar power generated in his premise and entire
solar generation is fed in to the grid which is billed at the rate of
feed-in-tariff approved by the Commission. The total energy imported by the
consumer from the grid is billed at retail tariff determined by the Commission.
Two separate meters i.e. generation meter and the consumer meter shall be used
for gross metering at the point of supply. The consumers may opt for Gross
Metering arrangement as specified in Regulation 4 and shall further be
restricted to the capacity and network configuration of the electricity system,
and the power flows that SPV system may cause. The energy accounting and
settlement under this arrangement shall be in accordance with Regulation 14. 11.1 The
distribution licensee shall implement a web-based application processing system
for processing the applications for Rooftop SPV systems. 11.2 The
distribution licensee shall facilitate the process for setting up of Rooftop
SPV system at consumers' premises. In this regard, the licensee shall
prominently display on its website and in all its offices, the following: (i)
detailed standardized procedure for installation &
commissioning of roof top solar system. (ii)
a single point of contact to facilitate the eligible consumers in
installation of Rooftop solar system from submission of application form to
commissioning. (iii)
complete list of documents required to be furnished along with
such applications: (iv)
applicable charges to be deposited by the applicant. (v)
Empanelled list of service providers for the benefit of consumers
who want to install roof top solar PV system through service providers. (vi)
financial incentives to the prosumers, as applicable under various
schemes and programmes of the Central and State Government. (vii)
Standard Connection Agreement(s) 11.3 A
consumer intending to set up the Rooftop SPV system shall submit the
application online along with processing fee of Rs. 50/kW or part thereof of
SPV Capacity subject to minimum of Rs. 500/- and maximum of Rs. 10000/to
designated officer of the distribution licensee for grant of permission to
set-up the plant. The acknowledgement with the registration number shall be
generated on submission of application; 11.4 The
application shall be deemed to be received on the date of generation of
acknowledgement with registration number and the application tracking mechanism
based on the unique registration number shall be provided by the distribution
licensee to monitor the status of processing of the application like receipt of
application, site inspection, meter installation and commissioning, etc. 11.5 The
distribution licensee shall complete technical feasibility study within 20 days
of the date of acknowledgement issued to the applicant. 11.6 If
technical feasibility is found satisfactory, the distribution licensee shall
approve the application and intimate the same to the applicant by providing a
Letter of Approval (LoA) via registered email/SMS/post within 22 days from the
issuance of acknowledgement of the application. 11.7 In
case of any deficiencies found in the application or during technical
feasibility study, the same shall be intimated by the distribution licensee to
the applicant through registered email/SMS notification within 20 days from the
date of issuance of acknowledgement of the application failing which it shall
be deemed to have been found in order by the distribution licensee. 11.8 The
applicant shall remove all identified deficiencies within a period of 15 days
from the receipt of intimation and intimate the distribution licensee about the
resolution of deficiencies through email/post. Provided that the distribution
licensee shall assess the resolution of deficiencies and provide LoA to the
applicant upon satisfaction. In case deficiencies are not removed in the said
period, the application shall stand cancelled. 11.9 In
case, there is any requirement of upgradation of distribution infrastructure
like augmentation of service line, distribution transformer capacity, etc., for
installation of the required capacity of solar PV system, the same shall be
carried out by the distribution licensee within a period of 180 days failing
which the application of the consumer for setting up SPV plant shall be deemed
to have been approved. 11.10 In
case it is not technical feasible to permit installation of SPV system on
account of target capacity limit and/or distribution infrastructure specified
under these Regulations, it shall be intimated to the applicant within 22 days
from the issuance of the acknowledgement of the application. Provided that in such case, the
application shall not stand rejected and shall be put on a priority wait list.
As and when the technical feasibility is re-established, the application which
have been put on priority waiting list shall be considered first before
processing any new application. 11.11 The
consumer shall set up the plant and submit the installation certificate
alongwith Single Line Diagram of the synchronizing and protection arrangement
issued by the plant supplier/EPC contractor as per standards and specifications
approved by the competent authority within 180 days of receiving the LoA. 11.12 In
case of delay, the consumer shall submit an application to the distribution
licensee along with extension fee of Rs. 25/kW of SPV capacity subject to
minimum of Rs. 250/- and maximum of Rs. 5,000/- atleast 15 days prior to lapse
of 180 days period. Such extension will be granted by the distribution licensee
within 15 days of the receipt of the request for a maximum period of 2 months
only failing which it shall be deemed to have been approved. The approval
granted will lapse automatically if the project is not set-up even in the
extended 2 months period. In case the consumer fails to install the system
within 180 days or get the period extended then the application shall stand
cancelled and the prosumer shall need to re-apply. However, the consumer will
be eligible to apply afresh in the next financial year but his application will
be kept at the bottom of the list of applicants. Such consumer will be
permitted to set-up the plant only if after allotting the capacity to all
successful applicants above him in the next financial year, there is still
capacity available for allotment. 11.13
After submission of the installation certificate and site verification,
distributing licensee shall complete signing of connection agreement for a
period of upto 25 years, installation and sealing of the Bi-directional energy
meter/unidirectional generation meter and successful commissioning of the SPV
system within 30 days of the submission of installation report. COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENTS 12.1 The
Distribution Licensee shall record the meter reading of both the Generation
Meter and the Net Meter, for all Eligible Consumers, as per the regular billing
cycle. 12.2 For
each Billing Cycle, the Distribution Licensee shall make the following
information available on its bill to the Eligible Consumer: (a)
Quantum of Solar Energy generation recorded in the Generation
Meter in the billing period; (b)
Quantum of electricity units imported by the consumer from the
distribution licensee's supply system in the billing cycle, including opening
and closing balance; (c)
Quantum of Solar Energy exported by the consumer to the grid in
the billing cycle, including opening and closing balance; (d)
Quantum of net billed electricity units, for which a payment is to
be made by the Consumer; (e)
Solar generation units used by the Distribution Licensee for RPO
compliance. (f)
Excess electricity carried forward from the last billing cycle; (g)
Excess electricity carried forward to the next billing cycle: h)
Installed capacity of Rooftop SPV Plant. 12.3 The
energy generated by the Rooftop SPV system shall be offset against the energy
consumption of the prosumer from the Distribution Licensee in the following
manner: (a)
In case the electricity injected by the Rooftop SPV system exceeds
the electricity consumed from the licensee's supply system during the billing
period, such excess injected electricity shall be carried forward to the next
billing period as excess electricity and may be utilized in the following billing
periods but within the same settlement period; (b)
In case the electricity supplied by the distribution licensee
during any billing period exceeds the electricity injected in the grid by the
prosumer, the distribution licensee shall raise a bill for the net electricity
consumption as per applicable tariff of that category after taking into account
any excess electricity carried forward from the previous billing period; (c)
In case the prosumer is under the ambit of time of day tariff, as
determined by the Commission from time to time, the following process shall be
followed: i.
Electricity consumption in any time block (e.g., peak hours,
off-peak hours, etc.) shall be first compensated with the electricity
generation in the same time block. ii.
Any excess generation over consumption in any time block in a
billing cycle shall be accounted as if the excess generation occurred during
the immediately lower tariff time block. iii.
This process will continue till all consumption in lower tariff
blocks is set off against prosumer generation. iv.
Any excess generation after setting off consumption in lower
tariff time blocks would be carried forward to the next billing cycle. v.
Same process would be used to set off consumption in the
subsequent billing cycle. (d)
The electricity generated from a rooftop solar system shall not
exceed 90% of the electricity consumption by the consumer in a settlement
period: Provided that in the event of
electricity generated exceeds 90% of the electricity consumed at the end of the
settlement period no payment shall be made by the distribution licensee and
shall not be carried forward to next settlement period and the same shall be
treated as inadvertent injection: Provided further that at the
beginning of each settlement period, cumulative carried over solar electricity
injected shall be reset to zero. (e)
The injected electricity measured in kilowatt hour (kWh)/kVAh
shall only be utilized to offset the consumption measured in kWh/kVAh and shall
not be utilized to compensate any other fee and charges levied by the distribution
licensee; (f)
In case, the consumer tariffs have been determined by the
Commission on kVAh basis, the generation and consumer meter readings shall also
be taken in kVAh and settlement of energy done accordingly. (g)
Regardless of availability of excess electricity with the prosumer
during any billing period, the prosumer will continue to pay all other charges
such as fixed/demand charges, Government levy, etc. (h)
In case the prosumer leaves the system, the excess electricity
shall be considered as inadvertent injection and shall not be paid for by the
distribution licensee. 13.1 For
each Billing Period, the Distribution Licensee shall make the following
information available on its bill to the Eligible Consumer: (a)
Quantum of Solar generation recorded in the Generation Meter, in
the billing period; (b)
Quantum of electricity units imported from the licensee's supply
system by the Consumer in the billing period, including opening and closing
balance; (c)
Quantum of Solar Energy exported to the grid by the consumer in
the billing cycle, including opening and closing balance; (d)
Billing Credit carried forward from the last billing period; (e)
Billing Credit carried forward to next billing period; (f)
Solar generation units used by the Distribution Licensee for RPO
compliance: (g)
Installed capacity of Rooftop SPV Plant. 13.2 The
Distribution Licensee shall raise bill on the prosumer in accordance with the
following equation: Energy Bill of consumer = Fixed
Charges + other applicable charges and levies + (EDL x TRST)-ERE x TRE) -
Billing Credit (carried forward from last billing cycle); Where: (a)
Fixed Charges means the Fixed/Demand Charges as applicable to the
consumer category as per the applicable retail supply Tariff Order; (b)
Other charges and levies mean any other charges such as
electricity duty, municipal tax, cess, etc.; (c)
EDL means the energy imported from the Distribution Licensee's
supply system by the Consumer for the billing cycle; (d)
TRST means the applicable Retail Supply Tariff of the concerned
consumer category as per the applicable retail supply tariff order of the
Commission; (e)
ERE means the energy units exported to the grid by the consumer
for the billing period; (f)
TRE means the feed-in-tariff approved by the Commission; (g)
Billing Credit is the amount by which the value of solar
generation in a particular billing cycle is more than the value of all other
components of consumer bill. 13.3 In
case the consumer is subjected to time of day tariffs, energy bill (EDL x TRST)
shall be computed accordingly. 13.4 In
case (ERE x TRE) is more than {Fixed charges + other applicable charges and
levies + (EDL x TRST)}, utility shall give credit of amount equal to difference
(Billing Credit), which shall be carried forward to the next billing cycle. 13.5 Such
Billing Credit would be carried forward for the settlement period. At the end
of the settlement period, if there is any outstanding Billing Credit, it shall
not be paid by the distribution licensee. The energy consumed by the
consumer during the billing cycle shall be billed at the retail tariff
applicable for the relevant category as determined by the Commission in the
tariff order whereas energy generated during the billing cycle shall be billed
at feed-in-tariff approved by the Commission. A single invoice may be raised by
the distribution licensee. 15.1 In
case of defective/failure/burnt condition of any meter, the prosumer shall
report the failure to the Distribution Licensee 15.2
Distribution Licensee shall replace the meter as specified in the Supply Code,
2014. 15.3 The
electricity generated by the Rooftop SPV system during the period in which the
meter is defective shall be determined based on the readings of the Check
Meter: Provided that if the Check Meter
is not installed, then the electricity generated shall be considered equal to
the average monthly generation in the last one year or corresponding period of
last year. 15.4 The
consumption of the Consumer during the period in which the Consumer meter or
Net Meter is defective shall be determined as specified in the Supply Code,
2014. The SPV system installed under
these Regulations shall be exempted from all wheeling, cross subsidy,
transmission and distribution and banking charges and surcharges. The eligibility for issuance of
renewable energy certificate shall be as per the eligibility criteria specified
under Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for
recognition and issuance of Renewable Energy Certificate for Renewable Energy
Generation) Regulations, 2010, as amended from time to time. The quantum of Solar generation,
as recorded by the Generation Meter, by eligible consumer, who is not defined
as obligated entity, from the rooftop solar system shall qualify towards
compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for the distribution
licensee. Provided that in case the Rooftop
SPV system is set up by an obligated entity, entire solar energy generated by
these Rooftop SPV systems shall be accounted for RPO compliance by the
obligated entity. 19.1 In
case of failure to meet timelines prescribed under these Regulations, the
distribution licensee shall take approval from the Commission in specific cases
along with justification for the same. In case of any delay on the part of
distribution licensee without any just cause, the Licensee shall be liable to
pay compensation to the consumer @ Rs. 500 per day for each day of delay for
SPV systems not exceeding 10 kWp. For SPV systems exceeding 10 kWp, the
compensation shall be Rs. 50 per kWp for each day of delay subject to maximum
of Rs. 2000 for each day of delay. 19.2 In
case the installed capacity of the SPV plant in the premises of the prosumer is
found to more than the sanctioned capacity, the energy injected in to the grid
by such prosumer for the last 6 billing cycles or date of installation,
whichever is later, shall be treated as inadvertent injection and no payment
shall be payable to the prosumer for such injection by the distribution
licensee. A 15 days notice shall be served to the prosumer to disconnect the
excess capacity failing which the agreement may be terminated by the
distribution licensee. The consumer may apply afresh in the next financial year
but his application will be kept at the bottom of the list of applicants. Such
consumer will be permitted to set-up the plant only if after allotting the
capacity to all successful applicants above him in the next financial year,
there is still capacity available for allotment. 19.3 In
case any SPV plant is found to be running in parallel with the supply system of
the distribution licensee without approval then supply of such consumer may be disconnected
without notice and the supply shall be restored only after the plant is
isolated from the supply system of the licensee. Such consumer may apply for
SPV plant in the next financial year but his application will be kept at the
bottom of the list of applicants. Such consumer will be permitted to set-up the
plant only if after allotting the capacity to all successful applicants above
him, there is still capacity available for allotment. In case of any monetary and/or
non-monetary dispute with the Distribution Licensee, the prosumer shall have
recourse, to the mechanism specified in PSERC (Forum and Ombudsman)
Regulations, 2016, as amended from time to time 21.1 The
eligible consumer may terminate the agreement at any time by giving 30 days
prior written notice to the licensee. 21.2 If
an eligible consumer breaches any term of the agreement and does not remedy the
breach within 30 days of receipt of written notice from the distribution
licensee of the breach or any other valid reason to be recorded in writing, the
distribution licensee may terminate the agreement through a speaking order
without any further notice. 21.3
Eligible consumer, upon termination of the agreement, shall disconnect
forthwith the photovoltaic system from licensee's distribution system. Subject to the provisions of the
Act, the Commission may from time to time issue such directions and orders as
considered appropriate for implementation of these Regulations. If any difficulty arises in
giving effect to the provisions of these Regulations, the Commission may, by an
order, make such provision, not being inconsistent with the Act and these
Regulations, which appears to the Commission to be necessary for removal of the
difficulties. The Commission may by general or
special order, for reasons to be recorded in writing and after giving an
opportunity of hearing to the parties likely to be affected, may relax any of
the provisions of these Regulations of its own or on an application made before
it by an interested person. The Commission may from time to
time add, vary, alter, suspend, modify, amend or repeal any provisions of these
Regulations. Save as otherwise provided in
these Regulations, the PSERC (Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic
Systems based on Net Metering) Regulations, 2015, as amended from time to time,
are hereby repealed. Provided that save as otherwise
provided in these Regulations, the Rooftop SPV systems registered under PSERC
(Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic Systems based on Net Metering)
Regulations, 2015 shall continue to be governed by the aforesaid Regulations
and shall not be governed by these Regulations.PUNJAB
STATE ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION (GRID INTERACTIVE ROOFTOP SOLAR PHOTO
VOLTAIC SYSTEMS) REGULATIONS, 2021
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