The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has released its Compendium of Regulations 2025 (Volume I), bringing together a wide range of rules that guide the functioning of the state’s power sector. The document acts as a single reference point for various regulations and their amendments, helping stakeholders better understand how electricity services are governed in Andhra Pradesh.
The compendium has been prepared with the aim of improving transparency and making regulatory information easier to access. It is expected to benefit generating companies, transmission utilities, distribution licensees, and open-access consumers. By combining multiple legal provisions in one place, the Commission has tried to simplify the complex framework created under the Electricity Act 2003, making it easier for stakeholders to follow and implement.
The document covers several important areas related to the power sector. It includes rules on how the Commission conducts its business, including procedures for hearings and decision-making. Consumer-focused regulations are also a key part of the compendium. These include provisions related to the Right to Information and Standards of Performance, which define service quality and outline compensation in case of failure to meet prescribed standards.
Technical and financial aspects are also clearly addressed. The compendium provides guidelines for tariff determination for transmission, wheeling, and retail electricity supply. It also explains the framework for open access, which allows consumers to procure electricity from suppliers other than their local distribution company. In addition, it includes details on the Interim Balancing and Settlement Code, which manages deviations in electricity supply and demand through 15-minute time blocks.
A major focus of the compendium is on renewable energy, reflecting the sector’s growing importance. It includes rules related to Renewable Power Purchase Obligations, ensuring that utilities source a portion of their electricity from clean energy. There are also specific provisions for tariff determination for solar and wind projects. Newer regulations highlight the Commission’s focus on future-ready solutions, including Green Energy Open Access and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
The document also supports government initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijili Yojana, under which certain charges are waived for small grid-connected rooftop solar systems. This is expected to encourage wider adoption of rooftop solar among residential consumers.
In addition to formal regulations, the compendium includes practice directions and government rules that deal with day-to-day operational matters. These cover areas such as metering responsibilities, development charges for multi-storied buildings, and procedures for providing electricity connections to agricultural consumers.
Overall, the 2025 compendium reflects the Commission’s effort to keep pace with the changing dynamics of the power sector, especially with the increasing role of renewable energy and new technologies. While it serves as a useful guide for industry players, researchers, and the public, APERC has clarified that the original Gazette notifications will remain the final and legally binding reference in case of any differences.
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