Chandigarh: The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has finally okayed tariff for gross metering solar power projects in the city, reducing it from Rs 6.30 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to Rs 4.88 per kWh.
Gross metering refers to the arrangement under which total solar power generated is exported to the grid. The new tariff will be applicable for gross metering projects commissioned from September 2, 2019, to March 31, 2020.
The commission had earlier come up with solar tariff applicable for the financial year of 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Debendra Dalai, CEO, Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (Crest), said people can now opt for gross metering plan as well. He said the JERC considered multiple factors while finalizing the tariff. As the installation cost of solar plants have gone down in recent years, the commission might have considered this point, he said.
Due to non-availability of tariff, the UT electricity department had stopped giving connection on gross metering.
At the same, Raj Kumar, a city resident, said the administration should file a revised petition for increasing the tariff for gross metering plants. The high tariff, which residents will get while selling solar power to the administration, will encourage more to come forward for installation of solar plants, he suggested.
The Union government had selected Chandigarh to be developed as model solar city with a target of generating 69MW of solar energy by 2022 through net and gross metering. The Crest has till date managed to install solar power plant with a capacity of 30MW. The Crest will have to ensure generation of 39MW.
Solar plant must
For buildings measuring 500 square yard to 999 square yard, installing solar plant of 1kwp capacity has been made mandatory, while owners of building measuring 1,000 square yard to 2,999 square yard have to install a solar power plant of 2kwp. For 3,000 square yard and above buildings, 3kwp solar plant is a must.
UT not to extend Sept 30 deadline
Debendra Dalai, CEO, Chandigarh Renewal Energy, Science and Technology Promotion Society (Crest), said the administration had fixed September 30 as deadline for installation of solar plants, and they will not extend the deadline. In June, the deadline was extended from June 30 — the third extension.
What is gross metering?
Gross metering refers to the arrangement under which total solar power generated is exported to the grid. The administration buys power at a fixed rate for gross metering connection. Earlier, the rate was Rs 8.57 per unit.
What is net metering?
It is an arrangement whereby a solar power system is connected to the electrical connection of a consumer and solar energy exported to the grid is adjusted in terms of units imported from the electricity department during a billing cycle.
Enhanced target
The ministry of new and renewable energy has enhanced the city’s solar power generation target from 50 megawatt (MW) to 69 MW, to be achieved by 2022.
Major project hanging fire
The ambitious project of the UT administration to install 25MW solar power plant –– the biggest of the city –– at Patiala ki Rao, a seasonal rivulet, is yet to see light of the day. The project, which is crucial for the administration to achieve the target of generating 69 MW –– both residential and government –– by 2022 is hanging fire since 2015.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
