In a recent development, the Ministry of Power has issued a directive to all States and Union Territories, emphasizing the alignment with the Open Access Regulations on an aggregation basis. This directive comes in light of the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, as notified by the Ministry.
The amendment, dated 23rd May, 2023, brings significant changes to the existing regulations. Notably, it defines an “entity” as any consumer with a contracted demand or sanctioned load of at least 100 kW, either through a single connection or multiple connections aggregating 100 kW or more within the same electricity division of a distribution licensee, excluding captive consumers. However, for captive consumers, there is no load limitation.
Furthermore, the amendment specifies that only consumers meeting the 100 kW threshold are eligible for Green Energy Open Access, with no limit on power supply for captive consumers under this scheme. Additionally, it exempts offshore wind projects commissioned by December 2032 from additional surcharges when supplying electricity to Open Access Consumers.
The Ministry urges all States and Union Territories to promptly take necessary measures for the implementation of these amended rules, aligning their Open Access Regulations accordingly. It emphasizes compliance with the notified rules and requests the status of compliance to be communicated within 15 days of the issuance of the directive.
This directive, issued, underscores the government’s commitment to promoting renewable energy through facilitating access to green energy sources. The alignment with Open Access Regulations on an aggregation basis is expected to streamline the process and encourage the uptake of renewable energy solutions across the country.
The Ministry’s move is seen as a proactive step towards fostering a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy ecosystem while also ensuring regulatory compliance and effective implementation of government policies at the state level. It marks another milestone in India’s journey towards achieving its renewable energy targets and combating climate change.
View the official document below:
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