THE
JHARKHAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
19 VAISHAKH 1946 (S)
RANCHI, THURSDAY 9th MAY, 2024
JHARKHAND STATE ELECTRICITY REGULATORY
COMMISSION
--------
NOTIFICATION
9th May, 2024
Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Group Net Metering and
Virtual Net Metering) Regulations, 2024
Notification no. 100--In exercise of powers conferred under Section 181, read
with Sections 86(1)(e)of the Electricity Act, 2003 and all other powers enabling it on
that behalf, the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission, hereby frames
the following Regulations.
1. Objective
1.1. The Electricity Act, 2003 entrusts on the appropriate Commission, the
responsibility of promotion of co-generation and generation based on
renewable energy sources. The policy framework of the Government of India
also stresses on the encouragement of renewable energy sources keeping in
view the need for energy security of the country.
No. 257
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
2
1.2. The Commission in order to achieve the objectives under the Jharkhand State
Solar Policy 2022 and in exercise of powers conferred under Section 181, read
with Sections 86(1)(e) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and all other powers
enabling it on that behalf, the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory
Commission, hereby makes the following Regulations.
2.
Short Title and Commencement
2.1. These Regulations may be called the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory
Commission (Group Net Metering and Virtual Net Metering) Regulations,
2024.
2.2. These Regulations shall extend to the State of Jharkhand.
2.3. These Regulations shall come into force from the date of their publication in
the Jharkhand State Government Gazette.
3.
Definitions and Interpretation
3.1. In this Regulation unless the context otherwise requires:
a)
‘Act’shall mean the Electricity Act, 2003 and subsequent amendments
thereof;
b)
‘Commission’shall mean the Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory
Commission (JSERC);
c)
‘Eligible Consumer’shall means a consumer(s) of electricity in the
area of supply of the Distribution Licensee, who uses a self-owned or
third party owned solar power project, to offset part or all of the
consumer’s own electricity requirements.
d)
‘Premises’shall mean and includes roof-tops or any areas on the land,
building or infrastructure or part or combination thereof in respect of
which a separate meter has been provided by the Distribution
Licensee;
e)
‘Group Net Metering’shall meanan arrangement wherebysurplus
energy generated/injected from a Renewable Energy System or Battery
Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through Renewable Energy
System is exported to the grid through Net Meter and the exported
energy is adjusted in more than one electricity service connection(s) of
the same consumer located within the same distribution licensee’s
area of supply;
f)
‘Virtual Net Metering’shall mean an arrangement whereby the entire
energy generated/injected from a Renewable Energy System or Battery
Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through a Renewable Energy
System is exported to the grid from a gross meter and the energy
exported is adjusted in more than one electricity service connection(s)
of participating consumers located within the same distribution
licensee’s area of supply;
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
3
g)
‘Third party owner’ shall mean a developer who is generating solar
energy on a rooftop but does not own the rooftop but enters into a
lease / commercial agreement with the rooftop owner. In case of gross
metering arrangement owned by third party, he shall also enter into an
agreement with the Distribution Licensee. However, if a consumer
installs rooftop solar PV system in his premises through a third party
and wishes to avail net metering facility, then only the eligible
consumer shall enter into an agreement with the Licensee;
h)
‘Settlement Period’ shall mean financial year.
3.2. Words and expressions used in these Regulations and not defined herein
but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in the Act.
3.3. Reference to any Act, Rules, and Regulations shall include the
amendment(s), consolidation(s), or re-enactment(s) thereof.
3.4. All proceedings under these Regulations shall be governed by the JSERC
(Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2016, as amended or re-enacted from
time to time.
4.
General & Applicability
4.1. Group Net Metering Framework and Virtual Net Metering Framework shall
be applicable to alleligible consumers in the State of Jharkhand.
Provided that consumers with pending arrears with the Distribution
Licensee shall not be treated as eligible consumers under these
Regulations.
4.2. The provision for providing land space shall be governed as per provisions
of JSERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulations, 2015, as amended from
time to time and Orders issued there under.
4.3. The Distribution licensee shall carry out a detailed technical study for the
impact of renewable energy system installed on the distribution system in
respect of grid voltage & frequency imbalance, harmonics, and technical
losses, etc., in its area of supply and submit the report to the Commission
within Six months from the date of issue of these Regulations.
5.
Consumer Application and Registration
5.1. The consumer(s)/ applicant(s) shall submit an application for Group Net
Metering or Virtual Net Metering in the prescribed format by the
Distribution Licensee along with a non-refundable fee as decided by the
Licensee for feasibility analysis. The consumer can download the
application form from the website of the distribution licensee.
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
4
6.
Technical Feasibility Analysis
6.1. Distribution Licensee shall carry out the technical feasibility analysis based
on the furnished information in the application submitted by the eligible
consumer.
6.2. The DISCOM shall review whether, the proposed Rooftop Solar Plant
satisfies the requisite technical standards of CEA/MNRE/ DISCOM/JSERC
especially with respect to inverter specifications, penetration levels, safety
aspects like anti-islanding and protection devices, etc. or not. This analysis
shall be carried out within7 working days from the date of submission of
application.
6.3. DISCOM shall accord feasibility approval to consumers on a first come first
serve basis.
7.
Connection Agreement
7.1. The Eligible consumers and the Distribution Company shall enter into an
agreement
that
specifies
the
technical
information,
commercial
arrangement and the clear roles and responsibilities of all the concerned
stakeholders within 30 days of issuing technical feasibility analysis.
7.2. If Agreement is not entered by the Eligible Consumer, application is deemed
to be cancelled.
7.3. The plant shall be installed within Six months from the date of Agreement.
7.4. In case of any delay beyond Sixmonths, DISCOM may provide the time
extension on case-to-case basis, after which the agreement shall be deemed
to be terminated.
8.
Metering Arrangement
8.1. Distribution Licensee shall install Renewable Energy meter(s) at Generation
point(s) which shall facilitate remote meter reading as under clause A9 of
JSERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and Net/Gross
Metering) Regulations, 2015, as amended from time to time and orders
issued thereunder.
8.2. Cost of the Net Meter (which is capable of recording both the import and
export of electricity) shall be borne by the consumer.
9.
Procedure for billing and energy accounting under Group Net Metering
Framework:-
The details of Energy Accounting and Settlement that shall be followed are given
below:
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
5
9.1 Where the export of units during any billing period exceeds the import of
units at the connection where Renewable Energy system is located, such
surplus units injected into the grid shall be adjusted against the energy
consumed in the monthly bill of service connection(s) in a sequence
indicated in the priority list along with sharing ratio provided by the
consumer.
9.2 The sequence of priority for adjustment shall be deemed to have begun
after adjustment of units at the service connection where Renewable Energy
Project is located;
9.3 The priority list along with the share ratio for adjustment of the balance
surplus energy against other electricity connection(s) may be revised by the
Consumer once at the beginning of every financial year with an advance
notice of two months;
9.4 The electricity consumption in any time block (e.g., peak hours, off-peak
hours, etc.) shall be first compensated with the electricity generation in
similar time blocks in the same billing cycle of the consumer where the
Renewable Energy project is located and any surplus units injected shall be
adjusted against the energy consumed in the monthly bill of service
connection(s) in a sequence indicated in the priority list and in accordance
with the ratio provided by the consumer, as if the surplus generation/
Energy Credits occurred during the off-peak time block for Time of Day
(ToD) consumers and normal time block for Non-ToD consumer.
9.5 Where during any billing period the export of units either in Non-ToD or
ToD Tariff exceeds the import of units by the electricity service
connection(s), such surplus units injected by the consumer shall be carried
forward to the next billing period as energy credit and shown as energy
exported by the consumer for adjustment against the energy consumed in
subsequent billing periods within the settlement period in the ratio
indicated in the priority list.
9.6 For the purpose of carry forward of surplus or set off of energy credits, the
energy units shall be moderated as per the relevant rebate/surcharge
percentage of the ToD tariff applicable for the relevant financial year. Any
surplus generation over consumption in any time block in a billing cycle
shall be accounted as if the surplus generation/ Energy Credits occurred
during the off-peak time block for ToD consumers and normal time block
for Non-ToD consumers.
9.7 At the end of each settlement period, any electricity credit which remain
unadjusted, such excess electricity shall be accounted for and paid by the
Distribution licensee to the consumer at a rate approved by the
Commission in Distribution licensee latest tariff Order of the applicable
year and shall be reset to zero at the beginning of each settlement period.
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
6
10. Procedure for billing and energy accounting under Virtual Net Metering
Framework: -
The details of Energy Accounting and Settlement that shall be followed are given
below:
10.1 The energy generated from Renewable Energy System shall be credited in
the monthly electricity bill of each participating connection(s) as per the
ratio of procurement from Renewable Energy System indicated under
agreement/MoU entered by the consumer(s).
10.2 The consumer(s) shall have the option to change the share of the credit of
electricity from the Renewable Energy System subject to the ratio of
procurement from the Renewable Energy System indicated under the
agreement/ MoU entered by the consumer(s) once in the financial year
with an advance notice of two months.
10.3 Where the Service connection of any participating consumers(s) is
disconnected due to any reason under any law for the time being in force,
the unadjusted units/remaining credits of that consumer(s) shall be paid
or adjusted in the payable amount with other bill by the distribution
licensee at a rate approved by the Commission in Distribution licensee
latest tariff Order at the end of the financial year.
10.4 The electricity consumption in any time block (e.g., peak hours, off-peak
hours, etc.) shall be first compensated with the electricity generation in
similar time blocks in the same billing cycle of the participating
consumer(s). Any surplus generation over consumption in any time block
in a billing cycle shall be accounted as if the surplus generation/Energy
Credits have occurred during the off-peak time blocks.
10.5 Where the units credited during any billing period of any participating
consumer exceeds the import of units by that consumer, such surplus
credited units shall be carried forward in the next billing period as energy
credits for adjustment against the energy consumed in subsequent billing
periods within the settlement period of each participating consumer(s).
10.6 For the purpose of carry forward of surplus or set off of energy credits, the
energy units shall be moderated as per the relevant rebate/surcharge
percentage of the ToD tariff applicable for the relevant year.
10.7 At the end of each settlement period, any electricity credits which remain
unadjusted, such excess electricity shall be accounted for and paid by the
Distribution licensee to the consumer at a rate approved by the
Commission in Distribution licensee latest tariff Order of the applicable
year and shall be reset to zero at the beginning of each settlement period.
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
7
11. Theft and Tampering of Meter(s)
11.1. Theft of electricity and tampering of meter(s) shall be as per clause A11
of the JSERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and
Net/Gross Metering) Regulations, 2015, as amended from time to time
and Orders issued there under
12. Inspection
DISCOM Officials reserve the right to inspect the Renewable Energy System or
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through a Renewable Energy
System routine at any time during the term of the Agreement. As part of the
inspection, DISCOM officials must ensure that the following aspects are
checked:
12.1. All protective equipment of the Renewable Energy System or Battery
Energy Storage System (BESS) charged through a Renewable Energy
System is functioning as per specifications.
12.2. The Renewable Energy System or Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
charged through a Renewable Energy System including panels, inverters,
etc. continue to meet the requirements of Indian & IEC standards post
installation till completion ofconnection agreement.
13. Dispute Resolution
13.1. Any dispute in billing shall be as per the JSERC (Guidelines for
establishment of forum for redressed of Grievances of the
Consumers
Electricity
Ombudsman
and
Consumer
Advocacy)
Regulations, 2020as amended from time to time.
14. Applicability of Other Charges
14.1. The Renewable Energy System commissioned under JSERC (Rooftop
Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems and Net/Gross Metering)
Regulations, 2015, as well as these Regulations, shall be exempted
from payment of wheeling charges, banking charges, cross-subsidy
charges, and any other charge(s), as per clause 8.2.5 of the Jharkhand
State Solar Policy, 2022 and as decided by the Commission by order
upon prudence check on case to case basis.
15. Renewable Purchase Obligation
15.1. The quantum of electricity generated under JSERC (Rooftop Solar PV
Grid Interactive Systems and Net/Gross Metering) Regulations,
2015, as well as these Regulationsshall qualify for compliance with the
Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for the distribution licensee if the
Renewable Energy Generator is not an obligated entity.
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary), Thursday 9th May, 2024
8
16. Eligibility to Participate under Renewable Energy Certificate Mechanism
16.1. Eligibility to Participate under Renewable Energy Certificate Mechanism
shall be as per clause A13 of JSERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid
Interactive Systems and Net/Gross Metering) Regulations, 2015, as
amended from time to time and Orders issued there under.
17. Power to Remove Difficulties
17.1. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of these
Regulations, the Commission may, by general or specific order, give
directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, as may appear
to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing difficulties.
18. Power to amend
18.1. The Commission may from time to time add, vary, alter, modify or amend
any provisions of these Regulations after following the necessary
procedures.
19. Interpretation
19.1. The decision of the Commission regarding the interpretation of these
Regulations shall be final and binding.
By Order of the Commission.
R.P.Nayak,
Secretary
----------
Printed & Published by the Superintendent of Jharkhand Government Press, Doranda, Ranchi.
Jharkhand Gazette (Extraordinary) 257-- 50.