The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has released the draft regulations titled ‘Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems Under Net/Gross Metering Regulations, 2023’. These regulations aim to address the concerns raised by consumers and distribution companies (DISCOMs) and align the state regulations with the Government of India rules to promote distributed renewable energy generation.
Here are some key points from the draft regulations:
Net Metering Cap: The net metering upper cap for rooftop solar projects has been reduced from 1 MW to 500 kW.
Gross Metering Cap: The gross metering upper cap has been increased from 1 MW to 5 MW. The maximum capacity at a single location is capped at 5,000 kW under the gross metering arrangement.
Cumulative Capacity: The cumulative capacity of all grid-connected rooftop solar systems, under both net metering and gross metering, connected to a particular distribution transformer should not exceed 80% of its rated capacity.
Eligibility: All registered companies, government entities, partnership companies, and individuals who are consumers of the state DISCOMs are eligible to set up grid-connected rooftop solar systems with or without battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Application Process: Consumers need to submit an application fee based on the capacity of the rooftop solar system they plan to install. The fee ranges from ₹1,000 for capacities up to 5 kW to ₹100,000 for capacities above 1,000 kW.
Feed-in Tariff: The applicable feed-in tariff will depend on the category of the consumer and the year of commissioning. For domestic prosumers, the feed-in tariff will be determined by the Commission and applicable for 25 years. For other categories, the feed-in tariff will be applicable for 12 years.
Transmission and Wheeling Charges: Prosumers under gross metering or net metering, where energy injection and consumption happen at the same point in the grid, will not be subject to transmission and wheeling charges and losses. In other cases, 5% of the injected energy will be adjusted towards transmission and distribution charges and losses.
The draft regulations also cover topics such as energy settlement, completion time for projects, and various feed-in tariff percentages based on different criteria such as net metering, gross metering, and project capacity.
It’s important to note that these regulations are in draft form, and the final version may include modifications based on public comments and stakeholder feedback.
View the official document:
 for grid-connected solar rooftop systems. Learn about the changes in net and gross metering caps, eligibility criteria, application process, feed-in tariffs, and more. Stay informed about the latest developments in promoting distributed renewable energy generation in Andhra Pradesh.){kind=link}