Nagpur: Rattled by the exodus of its consumers towards solar generation, MSEDCL is taking all steps to scuttle the solar rooftop policy. After seeking a surcharge of Rs1.26 per unit on such consumers, the discom has proposed to replace net metering by gross metering. The decision in this regard will be taken by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).
Gross metering will make solar rooftop unviable. Under net metering, the excess units used by consumers are charged at MSEDCL tariff. Under gross metering, the entire consumption will be charged at MSEDCL tariff, and solar energy generated by the consumer will be deducted from it.
This can be understood with an example. If a consumer uses 500 units and generates 450 units. Under net metering, he will be billed for 50 units at MSEDCL tariff. However, under gross metering he will be billed for all 500 units at MSEDCL tariff while MSEDCL will buy the 450 units generated by him at average cost of renewable energy purchased by the discom.
As MSEDCL has a slab system, the bill for 500 units used will be very high, the average being around Rs9 per unit. Against this, the average cost of renewable energy is Rs6 per unit. This means that the consumer will have to pay MSEDCL at the rate of Rs3 per unit for the 500 units he consumes. Under net metering, he pays for only 50 units at low rates, because the tariff for 0-100 units is low.
The consumer will not benefit even if he generates more than 500 units under gross metering, whereas he will get a negative bill under net metering.
Power consultant Ajit Prasad Ganguly slammed the policy, saying that small consumers will find that their return on investment is not coming. “Consumers should be given an option of going in for net or gross metering. This is done in Karnataka,” he said.
“Net metering can be for domestic and commercial consumers up to a certain sanctioned load. Gross metering can be available for industrial or big commercial consumers,” said the expert.
The central government has set a target of generating 40,000MW from solar rooftop by 2022. It had failed to meet its target for 2017-18 by 500MW. MSEDCL wants to discourage solar rooftop despite missing the target.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
