A petition was filed by Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd., Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd., and Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. before the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC). The petition sought amendments to the RERC (Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, 2020. Specifically, the petitioners requested an increase in the permissible capacity of renewable energy-based captive power plants from 100% to 200% of the contract demand, in line with a budget announcement made by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for FY 2024-25. The proposed change aimed to encourage the production of renewable energy in the state.
Additionally, the petitioners suggested revisions to the rules governing energy banking. They proposed increasing the maximum ceiling for banking energy to 30% of the monthly electricity consumption, compared to the existing provisions under the regulations. This amendment was intended to further facilitate the utilization of renewable energy.
During the hearing held on December 5, 2024, the petitioners, represented by Advocate Ms. Parinitoo Jain, highlighted the technical and procedural aspects of their proposal. They argued that the amendments were necessary to support the state’s renewable energy initiatives and requested permission to make further submissions if required.
The Commission carefully reviewed the petition. It acknowledged the need to align the regulations with the state’s renewable energy goals but determined that amendments could not be approved through the petition alone. The Commission emphasized the requirement to follow the due process outlined in the Electricity Act, 2003, for such regulatory changes. It noted that similar issues were already under consideration as part of the draft RERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2024. Comments and suggestions on the draft regulations had been received and were being examined.
Given these factors, the Commission decided to treat the petitioners’ proposals as inputs for the ongoing process of drafting the new regulations. The petition was thus disposed of without any immediate regulatory amendments.
The decision reflects the Commission’s commitment to adhering to procedural norms while considering stakeholders’ suggestions for promoting renewable energy.
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