The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has initiated proceedings on a petition filed jointly by South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) and North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL), seeking amendments to the state’s existing rooftop solar regulations. The petition, registered as Case No. 42/2026, primarily concerns changes to provisions governing excess electricity injection under net metering arrangements, applicable net metering limits, and the determination of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) for the financial year 2026-27.
The proposed amendments relate to the BERC (Rooftop Solar Grid Interactive Systems Based on Net and Gross Metering) Regulations, 2018. A key proposal submitted by the distribution companies is the introduction of a Feed-in-Tariff of ₹2.71 per kWh for electricity injected into the distribution grid under gross metering arrangements. The proposed tariff would be payable to prosumers or third-party owners for the surplus electricity supplied to the grid.
Following the Commission’s directions issued on October 7, 2026, SBPDCL and NBPDCL published a summary of their petition in at least two daily newspapers to invite public participation. The notice sought comments, suggestions, and objections from stakeholders and members of the general public regarding the proposed regulatory changes and tariff. The distribution companies subsequently submitted newspaper clippings to the Commission on October 30, 2026, confirming compliance with the publication requirements.
The Commission received submissions from various stakeholders during the consultation process. These included comments and objections filed by Sh. Rana Sanjay Kumar Singh on October 15, 2026, and Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd. on November 2, 2026.
During the recent hearing, the Commission was represented by a quorum comprising Chairman Amir Subhani, Member (Legal) P.S. Yadav, and Member (Technical) Manoj Kumar. Representatives of SBPDCL and NBPDCL requested copies of the submissions received from stakeholders to examine their observations and prepare formal responses.
Considering the request, BERC directed its Secretariat to provide copies of the stakeholder comments, suggestions, and objections to the petitioners. The two distribution companies have been instructed to submit their replies to the submissions by November 19, 2026.
The Commission has scheduled the next hearing for November 24, 2026, at 11:30 AM. During the proceedings, the petitioners and participating stakeholders will be given an opportunity to present their respective positions in detail. The outcome could influence the regulatory framework for rooftop solar net and gross metering arrangements in Bihar for FY 2026-27.
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