Recently on 05.05.2022, Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) amended regulation on “Net metering / Bi-directional Metering and their connectivity with respect to Rooftop Solar PV Projects”, by adopting group net metering and virtual net metering policy. In recent time, Ministry Of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) requested all State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for adoption of group net metering & virtual net metering policy in their existing rooftop solar regulation. After receiving suggestion from several consumers as well as considering notification of MNRE, the commission allowed
a. Net Metering for loads up to 500KW or up to the sanctioned load, whichever is lower as long as it is within the limit of 75% of transformer capacity.
b. Virtual Net Metering for consumers under domestic and specified public purpose category as per OERC distribution code, 2019 and also for the offices of government and local authorities.
c. Capacity of the renewable energy system under group net metering or virtual net metering framework, shall not be less than 5 Kw and more than 500Kw.
Definition of different amended terminologies are given below.
a. Net Metering : It is a mechanism where the excess solar energy generated after self consumption at prosumer’s or consumer’s rooftop solar plant, is adjusted as net energy exported bill or credited or carried over by the distribution licensee by using a single bi directional net meter at the point of supply.
b. Gross Metering : It is a mechanism where total solar energy generated by a prosumer or consumer’s rooftop solar plant is metered by a dedicated solar meter and total energy consumed by prosumer is metered through a separate meter. Total energy consumed by the prosumer is billed according to applicable retail tariff, whereas total solar energy generated is billed according to tariff determined by the commission.
c. Group Net Metering : It is a mechanism where surplus energy generated or injected from a renewable energy system or Battery energy storage system (BESS) charged through renewable energy system is expected to the grid through net meter and the exported energy is adjusted in more than on electricity service connection of the same consumer located within the same distribution licensee’s area of supply.
d. Virtual Net Metering : It is a mechanism whereby entire energy generated or injected from a Renewable Energy System or Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through Renewable Energy System is exported to the grid from renewable energy meter or gross meter and the energy exported is adjusted in more than one electricity service connections of participating consumers located within the same distribution licensee’s area of supply.
Recently in 2019, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has come up with Group Net Metering & Virtual Net Metering guidelines.
