| Work Detail |
Mr. Sudhir Budhay, a renewable energy consultant, filed a petition seeking clarifications on certain parts of two important regulations issued by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) in 2023. These regulations are the MERC (Grid Interactive Rooftop Renewable Energy Generating Systems) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2023, and the MERC (Distribution Open Access) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2023. Mr. Budhay has been involved in earlier cases related to net metering and grid support charges, showing his active role in renewable energy issues. The petition aimed to clear doubts and provide a better understanding so that the implementation of these regulations could be smooth and effective. However, during the hearing on August 20, 2024, it became clear that despite these regulations being in place, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (MSEDCL) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) had not issued the necessary implementation circulars to guide the process. Because of this, both companies were added as party respondents in the case, and the Commission directed them to issue the required circulars within 15 days. MSETCL responded on November 18, 2024, confirming that it had published procedures related to green energy open access on its website. It did not raise any objections to the clarifications or the requests made by the petitioner. On the other hand, MSEDCL challenged the Rooftop Renewable Energy Amendment Regulations, 2023, by filing a case in the Bombay High Court. The company argued that the Commission did not have the jurisdiction to deal with Public Interest Litigations (PILs). The Commission clarified that this petition was not a PIL but was specifically for seeking clarifications on particular provisions of the regulations. The Commission then divided its order into two parts. One part addressed the clarifications on the Rooftop Renewable Energy Amendment Regulations, 2023, and the other part focused on the Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2023. Some important clarifications were provided in the order. For example, it was stated that renewable energy systems connected at high voltage levels (HT/EHV) would be subject to banking charges similar to wheeling losses for HT levels. The Commission also explained the meaning of “same consumer” under the concept of “Group Net Metering.” This was based on the definition of “consumer” given in the Electricity Act, 2003, which helped clarify how rules apply when a person has multiple electricity connections or when family members are involved. Other clarifications included whether the priority list or the ratio of sharing energy can be changed, how group net metering energy is accounted for and settled, and how credit amounts are calculated. These details help consumers and distribution companies understand how to operate under the amended regulations. Regarding the Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2023, the Commission clarified rules about consumers having multiple connections and confirmed that the banking cycle for energy credits will end every month, matching the earlier regulations. It was also made clear that for low-tension consumers to be eligible for green energy open access, they must have Time of Day (ToD) meters installed. The Commission also explained provisions about changing the percentage share of energy generated and the interpretation of “twelve-time blocks” related to energy accounting. Despite these clarifications, during the final hearing on November 19, 2024, MSEDCL had still not issued the required implementation circulars as directed. The Commission noted this failure and said it would address the issue of implementing the regulations in a separate case, Case No. 222 of 2024. This indicates that the matter of ensuring proper application of these regulations is still under active consideration by the Commission. |
