DERC Proposes Green Energy Open Access Expansion By Removing 11 kV Eligibility Barrier In Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has issued a draft notification proposing the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The proposed amendment is aimed at making green energy open access more accessible to a larger number of electricity consumers in the national capital by removing an important eligibility restriction.

Under the existing Green Energy Open Access Regulations, notified in 2024, consumers were required to meet two conditions to qualify for green energy open access. They needed to have a contracted demand or sanctioned load of at least 100 kW and must also be connected to the electricity network at a voltage level of 11 kV or above. While many commercial and industrial consumers were able to meet the load requirement, several were unable to access green energy because their electricity connections operated at lower voltage levels.

To address this issue, the DERC has proposed deleting the phrase “connected at 11 kV or above” from the relevant provisions of the regulations. With this amendment, eligibility for green energy open access will depend only on the sanctioned load or contracted demand of the consumer.

The proposed change means that consumers with a sanctioned load of 100 kW or more will be able to apply for green energy open access regardless of the voltage level of their electricity connection. This is expected to benefit a large number of commercial establishments, medium-sized industries, telecom infrastructure operators, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that were previously excluded despite meeting the load criteria.

The amendment retains the existing requirement of a minimum sanctioned load of 100 kW. Consumers can continue to meet this threshold either through a single connection or by combining multiple connections under the same distribution licensee. The draft regulations also maintain the provisions related to captive consumers, allowing them to procure or generate green energy for their own use without any restrictions linked to contract demand or sanctioned load.

According to the draft notification, the proposed amendment does not alter any other aspects of the green energy open access framework. Existing provisions related to wheeling charges, banking arrangements, metering requirements, and operational approvals will remain unchanged. The amendment is intended solely to remove the voltage-based eligibility barrier and expand access to renewable energy.

The move is expected to support wider adoption of green energy across Delhi by enabling more consumers to participate in open access arrangements. By aligning state regulations with broader national renewable energy objectives, the amendment seeks to encourage clean energy procurement, reduce dependence on conventional power sources, and support ongoing decarbonization efforts. If approved, the revised regulations could significantly expand the consumer base for green energy open access in Delhi.