Solar policy to be notified in 15 days
PANAJI: The joint electricity regulatory commission (JERC) has instructed the Goa electricity department to provide required assistance to consumers interested in generating solar power in the state.
It advised the department to do so after consumers and solar installers brought to the notice of the commission at the hearings that the government is dragging its feet over promoting solar power highlighting problems on the ground.
The commission at the public hearing on Monday told the power department to be ‘proactive’ and guide consumers. It stated that the department should, in fact, encourage consumers to switch over to non-renewable energy resources.
The member secretary of Goa energy development agency, Sanjeev Joglekar informed the commission that the solar policy 2017 is being amended and it will be notified within the next 10 to 15 days.
The issue of power purchase agreements not signed between the prosumer and the electricity department was also raised at the hearing.
Executive engineer (IPM) B Nigale stated that the power purchase agreement is ready and has been vetted by the law department.
He told the commission that once the power agreement is out, it will have “retrospective effect” and assured prosumers that they would receive all the benefits of solar power produced by them and supplied to the grid.
The commission told the department to keep the stakeholders informed on PPA so that they can avail the benefit.
Chairperson of the commission, M K Goel stated that solar regulations of JERC were already existing and valid till May 2018.
“They have been extended for another year,” he told at the public hearing.
The commission, he added, is in the process of finalizing a new solar policy with tariff for solar and renewable energy shortly. Until this is finalized, the earlier regulations will continue to be in force.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes
