UERC Rejects Review Petition Seeking INR 5.50/Unit Solar Tariff for FY 2026-27 In Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) has dismissed a review petition filed by the RE Power Generators Society seeking an upward revision of the generic tariff and benchmark capital cost for solar power plants for the financial year 2026-27. The Commission concluded that the petition lacked merit, stating that the concerns raised by the petitioner had already been considered during the original tariff determination proceedings.

The RE Power Generators Society had requested the Commission to increase the solar photovoltaic (PV) tariff to ₹5.50 per unit. The society argued that a directive issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on May 25, 2026, had introduced significant cost implications for solar power developers by making compliance with the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II mandatory from June 1, 2026.

According to the petitioner, the implementation of ALMM List-II increased the capital expenditure required for solar power projects, particularly due to the higher costs associated with compliant solar modules. The society maintained that these additional expenses affected the financial viability of solar power generation and justified revising the tariff determined by the Commission for FY 2026-27.

The petitioner also referred to a clarification letter issued by the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA), arguing that the communication, along with the MNRE directive, provided grounds for reviewing the earlier tariff order. It sought reconsideration of the applicable generic tariff to reflect the changing regulatory requirements and their impact on project costs.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), which opposed the review petition, challenged both the maintainability of the application and the grounds presented by the petitioner. UPCL argued that the RE Power Generators Society did not have the necessary legal standing to seek the requested review.

UPCL further submitted that the issues concerning ALMM List-II compliance, domestic content requirements and the associated increase in solar module costs had already been raised and examined during the original tariff proceedings. According to the utility, the petitioner was attempting to reopen matters that had already been considered and decided by the Commission.

The utility also maintained that a review petition could not be used as a substitute for an appeal or as a means of obtaining a different decision on issues already adjudicated. It argued that the petitioner had not established sufficient grounds to justify reconsideration of the existing tariff order.

After examining the submissions, UERC found no justification for reviewing its earlier decision. The Commission observed that the potential financial implications of ALMM List-II requirements and domestic content compliance were known to stakeholders and had been considered before the original order was issued.

The Commission further emphasised that a review cannot be granted simply because a party disagrees with an earlier decision or seeks a fresh assessment of matters that have already been examined.

Consequently, UERC rejected the review petition filed by the RE Power Generators Society, leaving the existing generic solar PV tariff and benchmark capital cost determination for FY 2026-27 unchanged by this proceeding. The decision maintains the existing regulatory position on solar power tariffs in Uttarakhand, despite the petitioner’s concerns regarding rising project costs and mandatory domestic manufacturing requirements.