In a recent order Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) adopted tariff for long term power procurement of 385.3 MW solar power under ‘Mukhyamantri Solar Krishi Vahini Yojana’ scheme, awarded by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).
In 2020, MSEDCL floated tender for 1300 MW under MSKVY scheme with a ceiling tariff of Rs 3.05/unit. After receiving low response with 111 MW capacity & Ministry of Finance (MoF)’s notification of GST tax increase from 5% to 12% on import of solar modules and solar inverters, MSEDCL retendered 1250 MW capacity with ceiling tariff rate of Rs. 3.10/unit. Further, it received total 15 no of bidders response with cumulative capacity of 385.3 MW.
The bidding details given below.
| Tender No | Name of Bidder | Capacity/ Location (MW) | Quoted Tariff (Rs/Kwh) |
| T-41 | Aqua Dynamic Solution | 28 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Aneja Foods Pvt Ltd | 8 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Avichal Textile Mills | 2 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Gorakshasiddhi Solar Power Pvt Ltd | 129 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Juniper Green Energy Pvt Ltd | 170 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Kagwade Associates | 2 | 3.05 |
| T-41 | Kalika Ginning & Pressing Pvt Ltd | 3.30 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Kalpataru Global Alloys Pvt Ltd | 3 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Laxmi Narayan Sarkate | 2 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd | 4 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Maharashtra Vidhyut Nigam Pvt Ltd | 10 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | MGR & Sons Company | 20 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Mr.Rupesh Pundlikrao Deshmukh | 2 | 3.10 |
| T-41 | Ranjan mukund babre | 2 | 3.10 |
Apart from 15 bidders, on 20th January 2022, M/S Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sansthan (M/S SMJS) rewarded MSEDCL to sign PPA with MSEDCL for 1.168MW solar power at koradi, nagpur. As the minimum bidding capacity under MSKVY tender was 2MW, therefore they requested for the signing of PPA at the discovered tariff in 1250MW tender of Rs 3.05 per unit.
In the above context, MSEDCL filed a petition to MERC for the following prayers.
i. Admit the petition per the provision under section 63 of electricity act (EA), 2003.
ii. Adopts the tariff of discovered capacity of 385.3MW out of total 1250 MW MSEDCL tender and signing of PPA with successful bidder.
iii. Approve the signing of PPA with Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Sansthan for 1.168MW solar plant at tariff of Rs 3.05 per unit.
iv. Approve the RfS and PPA document floats for 1250MW tender under MSKVY.
v. Approve to made this power eligible for meeting the solar renewable power obligation (RPO) requirement of MSEDCL.
In response, M/s Juniper Pvt Ltd, objected the above prayers with the following two points :
a. Schedule commissioning date (SCOD) of the project to be amended as 18 months from the date of PPA in terms of guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process.
b. Delay in achieving SCOD on account of COVID-19 & subsequent supply chain disruption.
After analyzing all stakeholder’s (petitioner & respondent) claims, commission gave the order as follows :
A. Adoption of tariff through the competitive bidding process : In line with the mandate under section 63 of the electricity act, 2003, the commission deems it fit to adopt and approve tariff for 385.3 MW cumulative solar projects on a long term basis for the period of 25 years.
B. The commission allows MSEDCL to sign the PPA with M/s SMJS for 1.168 MW solar project at Rs 3.05 per unit.
C. The commission rejected M/s SMJS claim for project completion time extension to 18 months from initial 12 months as per the issued LoA (Letter of Award).
Discover more from SolarQuarter
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
 adopted tariff for long term power procurement of 385.3 MW solar power under 'Mukhyamantri Solar Krishi Vahini Yojana' scheme, awarded by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).){kind=link}