GERC Proposes Fifth Amendment 2025 To Simplify Rooftop Solar Rules For Residential Consumers In Gujarat

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has proposed a draft Fifth Amendment to its 2016 regulations for rooftop solar projects, aiming to simplify procedures and encourage faster adoption, particularly for residential consumers under the central government’s PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme. The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote clean energy and ensure that households can access rooftop solar solutions with minimal administrative hurdles.

One of the major changes in the draft amendment relates to the requirement for consumers to sign a separate, formal written agreement for connectivity with their local electricity distribution company (Discom). Currently, this step is time-consuming and has been identified as a barrier to the quick rollout of solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. The proposed amendment responds directly to a petition filed jointly by four state-owned Discoms requesting a relaxation of this requirement. The petition referenced a letter from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), dated December 31, 2024, which recommended eliminating the need for a net metering agreement to accelerate the implementation of the scheme and achieve its ambitious solar targets.

Under the new proposal, residential consumers installing solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar scheme will no longer be required to sign a separate written connectivity agreement. Instead, they will be considered legally bound by the terms and conditions already set out in the GERC Regulations. The effective date of the agreement will now be the date when the solar system is successfully commissioned. To formalize this, the concerned Discom will send a communication to the applicant acknowledging the agreement’s commencement date and specifying the rate at which the Discom will purchase any surplus energy generated by the rooftop system. This approach is expected to simplify the paperwork, reduce delays, and provide consumers with a clearer and faster path to start generating solar power.

In addition to streamlining documentation, the draft Fifth Amendment also addresses technical regulations related to grid connectivity levels for rooftop solar projects. Previously, Regulation 8(2) of the 2016 rules set a threshold that required solar projects exceeding 100 kVA/kW of load to connect at the High Tension (HT) level. This limit was based on the GERC Electricity Supply Code. However, following the Fourth Amendment to the GERC (Electricity Supply Code and Related Matters) Regulations, 2015, made on September 23, 2024, consumers can now opt for Low Tension (LT) level connectivity for loads up to 150 kVA/kW, an increase from the earlier 100 kVA/kW limit.

To ensure consistency across all regulations, the draft Fifth Amendment proposes to replace the existing detailed chart in Regulation 8(2) with a simple reference stating that connectivity levels for rooftop solar systems must align with the current GERC Electricity Supply Code and all subsequent amendments. This ensures that consumers are aware of the updated, higher LT connection capacity, offering greater flexibility for larger rooftop solar projects.

Overall, the proposed Fifth Amendment reflects GERC’s efforts to make rooftop solar adoption more consumer-friendly while aligning technical rules with recent updates. By removing unnecessary paperwork and allowing for higher LT connection limits, the changes are expected to support faster deployment of rooftop solar systems, contributing to Gujarat’s renewable energy goals and the success of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.