Jharkhand Gazette, No. 163, 28 March 2019

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THE

JHARKHAND GAZETTE

EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

7 Falgun, 1940(S)

No. 163

Ranchi, Tuesday, 26th February, 2019

JHARKHAND STATE ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION, RANCHI

Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and Net /Gross Metering

(1st Amendment) Regulations, 2019

---------------

NOTIFICATION

The 19thFebruary, 2019

Notification No. 67-- In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (x) of sub- section (2) of Section181 read with Section 50 of the Electricity Act 2003 (36 of 2003) and all power enabling it in that behalf, the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission hereby makes the 1st amendment in Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and Net/Gross Metering) Regulations, 2015.

1. Short title and commencement:

(i) This Regulation may be called the "Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and Net/Gross Metering) (1st Amendment), 2019.

(ii) It shall extend to the whole State of Jharkhand. (iii) This shall come into force with effect from the date of publication in Jharkhand Gazette.

2. Inclusion of Definition

The term 'Contracted Load or Contract Demand' is reclassified as 'Connected Load' in Clause 2.1 6) of the Principal Regulations

"Connected Load" means aggregate of the manufacturer's rating of all energy

consuming devices, in the consumer's premises, which can be simultaneously

used. In case manufacturer-rating plate is not available, the Licensee shall

measure actual load of the device. This shall be expressed in KW, KVA or HP

units and shall be determined as per the procedure laid down by the

Commission in the JSERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulations 2015 and

subsequent amendments thereof;'

3. Modification of Definition

The definition of the term 'Contracted Load' or 'Sanctioned Load' or 'Contract Demand' is modified and is included as Clause 2.1 6) a of the Principal Regulations:

"Contracted Load or Sanctioned Load or Contract Demand" means the

maximum demand in kW, kVA or HP, agreed to be supplied by the Licensee

and indicated in the agreement executed between the Licensee and the

Consumer."

4. Amendment in Clause 2.3

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amendedas follows:

"All proceedings under these Regulations shall be governed by the JSERC

(Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2016 and subsequent amendments

thereof."

5. Amendment in Clause 3.1

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"These Regulations shall apply to the Distribution Licensees, the eligible

consumers of the Distribution Licensees and third party owners of gross/net

metering arrangement of rooftop solar PV system in the State of Jharkhand."

6. Amendment in Clause 3.3

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"These Regulations do not preclude the right of the State authorities and

Distribution Licensees to undertake rooftop solar projects of 2 MWp and

above capacity through alternative mechanisms."

7. Deletion of Clause 3.4

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is deleted.

8. Amendment in Clause 4.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"Provided that third party owners who have entered into a lease or

commercial agreement for the rooftop in the premises of the eligible

consumers, shall also be entitled to install rooftop solar PV system under

gross/net metering arrangement with the Distribution Licensee, for such

capacity which shall be cumulative of the prescribed limits of rooftop solar PV

capacity for each eligible consumer whose rooftop has been leased by the third

party owner."

9. Amendment in Clause 4.4

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"Provided that the eligible consumer or third party owner availing net

metering arrangement under these Regulations shall not be allowed to apply

for gross metering arrangement within the same premises."

10. Amendment in Clause 4.7

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"If the eligible consumer or third party owner installs solar rooftop system

under the net metering scheme, such eligible consumer and individual

consumers who have leased out their premise to third party shall be entitled to

use the power generated from the rooftop solar PV system at their premises.

The surplus power can be injected to the distribution system of the Licensee at

the interconnection point."

11. Amendment in Clause 5.1

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"5.1 The maximum peak capacity of the grid connected rooftop solar PV

system to be installed by any eligible consumer shall not exceed 100% of the

Sanctioned Load /Contract Demand of the Consumer."

12. Amendment in Clause 5.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"5.2 The capacity of the grid connected rooftop solar PV system to be installed by any

eligible consumer or third party owner shall be from1 kWp to 2 MWp."

13. Amendment in Clause 6.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"6.2 Provided that the capacity to be allowed in the area fed from the

distribution transformer or any other transformer from which power is fed to

the eligible consumer is 100% of that distribution transformer or any other

percentage as may be fixed by the Commission of the rated capacity of such

transformer(s).

Provided that no application shall be rejected on the basis of inability to

support the proposed Solar rooftop PV project due to need for system

augmentation"

14. Amendment in Clause 7.1.(iv)

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"iv Consumers shall submit the application to the Executive Engineer/Equivalent Officer of

the concerned Distribution Licensee along with a copy to JREDA;…"

15. Amendment in Clause 7.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"The Licensee shall acknowledge the receipt of the application form within two

(2) days of application, register the application and shall process the

application in the order of the receipt. The Licensee shall prepare a priority list

having validity of one eighty (180) days on the basis of the order of such

receipts. The priority list shall be prominently displayed in the local offices of

the Licensee and shall also be uploaded on the website of the Licensee."

16. Amendment in Clause 7.5

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows and the provisos are deleted:

"The Distribution Licensee shall on receipt of documents (if any) and removal of defects (if

any), submitted under Regulation 7.4, inform the approval within ten (10) days from the date of

receipt"

17. Amendment in Clause 8.1(iv)

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"8.1(iv) Regulations and provisions framed under Section 53 of the Electricity Act 2003 and

subsequent amendments thereof shall be complied"

18. Amendment in Clause 8.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"The connectivity levels at which the rooftop solar PV system shall be connected with the

distribution system are as specified below:

19. Amendment in Clause 8.3

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"The eligible consumers or third party owners using net metering arrangement

are allowed to use a battery backup system in conjunction with their net

metering system. A sample pictorial representation is given in Annexure VI for

explanation purpose only."

20. Amendment in Clause 9.4

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"The location of appropriate meter(s) shall be in accordance with the CEA

(Installation and Operation of Meters), Regulations, 2006 as amended from

time to time and the JSERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulations, 2015 as

amended from time to time."

21. Amendment in Chapter IV "Energy Accounting"

The "Chapter IV: Energy Accounting" of the Principal Regulations is amended as "Chapter V: Energy Accounting"

22. Addition after Clause 10.1

The above Clause is added in Principal Regulations as follows:

"10.1(A) Energy injected into the grid from date of synchronization to

Commercial Operation Date (COD) will be considered as deemed energy

banking and the unutilized banked energy under net and gross metering

shall be considered as deemed purchase by Discom at the respective pooled

power purchase costs as determined by the JSERC for the applicable year.

Energy settlement shall be done on monthly basis."

23. Amendment in Clause 10.2

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"10.2 The case of rooftop solar PV system under gross or net metering

arrangement the Licensee shall undertake energy accounting and settlement

with either the eligible consumer or the third party owner whosoever is a

signatory of the interconnection agreement with the Licensee."

24. Amendment in Clause 10.3(iii)

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"iii) Provided that the Solar Injection Compensation to be paid by the

Distribution Licensee to the eligible consumer or third party owner as the case

may be shall be at the ratenotified by the Commission in its Tariff

Order/Individual Order for the relevant year in which Rooftop Solar PV

System is commissioned or as per Section 63 of the Act, as the case may be,

for that Distribution Licensee till the completion of plant life (25 years);

Provided further that in case the rate for any year is not specified or there is

a delay in the notification of the rate for any year, the previously notified rate

shall be applicable."

25. Amendment in Clause 10.4

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

"10.4 The energy accounting and settlement procedure for consumers or third

party owner installing and operating rooftop solar PV system under net

metering arrangement shall be as per the following procedure:

i. …

ii. ....

iii. If the electricity supplied by the Distribution Licensee during any

billing period exceeds the electricity generated by the eligible

consumer's rooftop solar PV system, the Distribution Licensee shall

raise invoice for the net electricity consumption after taking into account

any electricity credit balance remaining from previous billing periods;

Provided, in case the eligible consumer is under the ambit of time of day

tariff, as determined by the Commission from time to time, the electricity

consumption in any time block (e.g., peak hours, off-peak hours, etc.)

shall be first compensated with the electricity generation in the same

time block. Any excess generation over consumption in any time block in

a billing cycle shall be carried forward to the corresponding time block

in the subsequent month for adjustment purpose.

Provided also that the excess electricity measured in kilo-watt

hour/kVAh may only be utilized to offset the consumption measured in

kilo-watt hour/kVAh and may not be utilized to compensate any other fee

and charges imposed by the Distribution Licensee as per the instructions

of Commission

Provided also at the end of each settlement period, any electricity

credits, which remain unadjusted, shall be paid by the Distribution

Licensee at the ratenotified by the Commission in its Tariff

Order/Individual Order for the relevant year for that Distribution

Licensee.

Provided further that in case the rate for any year is not specified or

there is a delay in notification of the rate for any year, the previously

notified rate shall be applicable till notification of the latest rate.

Provide further that at the beginning of each settlement period,

cumulative carried over electricity credits shall be reset to zero.

iv There shall be no deemed generation charges payable to the

eligible consumer or third party owner.

v. In case the applicable tariff provides for billing on kVAh basis, the net

drawl or injection of energy shall also be measured in kVAh.

vi. When an eligible consumer leaves the system, that consumers unused

electricity credits shall be paid at the rate determined in accordance

with Regulation 10.4(iii) of these Regulations. …"

26. Amendment in Chapter IV "Miscellaneous"

The "Chapter IV: Miscellaneous" of the Principal Regulations is amended as "Chapter VI: Miscellaneous"

27. Addition after Clause 17.1

The above Clause is added in Principal Regulations as follows:

"A18:POWER TO REMOVE DIFFICULTIES

18.1 If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of these

Regulations, the Commission may, by general or specific Order, make such

provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act as may appear to it

to be necessary for removing such difficulty."

28. Amendment in Annexure-II: Fee Structure

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

The amount of application fee for eligible consumer and third party ownerother

than the owner of the premises shall be the amount mentioned above.

The amount of registration fee for eligible consumer and third party owner other

than the owner of the premises shall be the amount mentioned above."

29. Amendment of Term "RSPV Regulations, 2015"

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

The term 'RSPV Regulations, 2015' is replaced by 'RSPV Regulations, 2015 and amendments thereof' in Annexure-III-9, Annexure-V(A)-6.1 and Annexure-V(B)-1.1 & 2.1(iv) of the Principal Regulations.

30. Amendment in Annexure-V(A): Inter connection Agreement

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:……………

The Eligible Consumer or third party owner, by the name of

……………………………………………owning or leasing or having commercial

rights to the premises at (address) ………………………………………………as

first party………………

And whereas, the ……………………………… (Name of the Licensee) agrees to

provide grid connectivity to the eligible consumer for injection of the electricity

generated from their plant of capacity ……… kilowatts into the power system

of Licensee and as per conditions of this agreement and Gross/net- metering

regulations/orders issued by the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory

Commission.…………

2. Technical and Interconnection Requirements

2.1. The First Party agrees that the Rooftop Solar PV generation plant gross

metering system will conform to the standards and requirements specified in

these regulations and in the following Regulations and codes as amended from

time to time.…………

2.2. First Party agrees that it has installed or will install, prior to connection of

Photovoltaic system to Licensee's distribution system, an isolation device (both

automatic and inbuilt within inverter and external manual relays) and agrees

for the Licensee to have access to and operation of this, if required and for

repair & maintenance of the distribution system.

2.3. First Party agrees that in case of a power outage Licensee's system,

photovoltaic system will disconnect/isolate automatically and the plant will not

inject power into Licensee's distribution system."........

7 Connection Costs

7.1 The First Party shall bear all costs related to setting up of photovoltaic

system including metering and interconnection costs."......."

31. Amendment of Terms "eligible consumer"&"Licensee"

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:

In Annexure-V(B): Inter connection Agreement of the Principal Regulations, all the instances of the term "eligible consumer" are replaced by "First Party" and "Licensee" by "Second Party"

32. Amendment in Annexure-V(B): Inter connection Agreement

The above Clause of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows:"…....

The Eligible Consumer or third party owner, by the name of

……………………………………………owning or leasing or having

commercial rights to the premises at (address)

………………………………………………as first party…....

And whereas, the ……………………………… (Name of the Licensee) agrees

to provide grid connectivity to the eligible consumer for injection of the

electricity generated from their plant of capacity ……… kilowatts into the

power system of Licensee and as per conditions of this agreement and

Gross/net- metering regulations/orders issued by the Jharkhand State

Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Both the parties hereby agree to as follows:

1. Eligibility

1.1. Eligibility for net-metering has been specified in the JSERC (Rooftop

Solar PV Grid Interactive System Gross / Net Metering) Regulations, 2015

(hereinafter referred to as RSPV Regulations, 2015). Eligible consumer or

third party owner is required to be aware, in advance, of the standards and

conditions his system has to meet for being integrated into grid/distribution

system.

2. Technical and Interconnection Requirements

2.1. The First Party agrees that the Rooftop Solar PV generation plant and

net metering system will conform to the standards and requirements specified

in these regulations and in the following Regulations and codes as amended

from time to time.…

In witness, whereof, Mr. ……………………………………………… for and on

behalf of (Eligible consumer or third party owner) and Mr.

……………………………………………… for and on behalf of (Licensee) sign

this agreement in two originals."

By order of the Commission,

A.K. Mehta, Secretary Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Printed & Published by the Superintendent of Jharkhand Government Press, Doranda, Ranchi. Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary) 163 -- 50.