The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued a new order aimed at removing difficulties in the implementation of Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) projects across the state. The order, titled “Terms and Conditions for Open Access Regulations (Removal of Difficulty) First Order, 2026,” was issued on May 22, 2026, under the leadership of Chairman Arvind Kumar and Member Sanjay Kumar Singh. The initiative is expected to simplify procedures, reduce financial burdens, and support the growth of renewable energy adoption in Uttar Pradesh.
One of the major changes introduced through the order relates to metering requirements for open access consumers. UPERC has revised Regulation 29.6 and aligned it with the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026. Under the new provisions, interface meters, including main, check, and standby meters, must be installed according to the standards prescribed by the Central Electricity Authority. Consumers will continue to bear the cost of these meters. However, in a significant relief measure, check meters will no longer be mandatory for consumers connected at voltage levels up to 650 Volts unless the consumer specifically requests their installation. This change is expected to reduce costs and simplify compliance for smaller consumers.
The commission has also addressed concerns regarding application fees for Green Energy Open Access projects. Earlier, a non-refundable application fee of Rs. 50,000 was charged in cases where no system strengthening was required. This fee structure created difficulties for projects where several individual consumers participated through a single Lead GEOA Consumer. To address this issue, UPERC has revised Schedule A of the regulations. Under the new framework, a Lead GEOA Consumer representing multiple consumers will pay an application fee of Rs. 5,000 per individual consumer or Rs. 50,000, whichever is higher. The revised structure is expected to provide greater flexibility while ensuring a fair fee mechanism.
Another important reform relates to registration fees charged by the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC). Previously, consumers were required to pay a registration fee of Rs. 15,000 per connection, leading to high cumulative costs for group-based renewable energy projects. The new order replaces this arrangement with a revised fee structure. Lead GEOA Consumers will now pay Rs. 1,500 per individual consumer or a minimum of Rs. 15,000, whichever is higher. This change significantly lowers the financial burden on collective green energy initiatives.
The order also clarifies that if a Lead GEOA Consumer changes the source of green energy being used, a fresh application must be submitted along with the applicable application and registration fees for all participating consumers. Through these reforms, UPERC aims to create a more transparent and efficient regulatory framework, reduce unnecessary costs, and encourage wider adoption of renewable energy solutions across Uttar Pradesh.
