RERC has announced the second amendment bill to the Grid-Interactive Distributed Electric Generating Systems Regulations of 2024.

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has made significant changes to its Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Systems on Grid Regulations 2024. These changes are aimed at streamlining the adoption and implementation of renewable energy systems across the state, ensuring more efficient and user-friendly processes for consumers and educational institutions.

One of the major changes is Regulation 12. The new provision specifically applies to educational institutions recognised by the Government of India or the Government of Rajasthan. Those institutions that have opted for a Net-Metering arrangement can now switch to Net Billing for any two months in a financial year. This flexibility has been designed to accommodate the operational schedules of educational institutions, which often have fixed vacation periods when energy consumption is significantly reduced. By allowing these institutions to opt for Net Billing during these periods of low consumption, RERC provides a mechanism to more effectively balance their energy consumption with their billing arrangements.

Another significant change concerns Regulation 8, which affects the process of installation and technical feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. The amended Sub-Regulation 8.8 states that a technical feasibility study for the installation of such systems must be completed within fifteen days. If the result is not communicated to the applicant within this period, the proposal will be deemed technically feasible by default. This change aims to speed up the approval process and reduce the delays that applicants previously faced.

In addition, applications for renewable energy systems up to 10 kW that are complete in all respects are now considered acceptable without the need for a technical feasibility study. Any necessary improvements to the approved load will be carried out by the Distribution Licensee. It is expected that this simplification will encourage more consumers to adopt small-scale renewable energy systems by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and providing faster installation schedules.

The amendment also includes changes to Subsection 8.12, which currently requires that after the installation of a renewable energy generation system, the consumer must submit an installation certificate to the Distribution Licensee. The Distribution Licensee is then required to sign a connection agreement, install the meter and successfully commission the system within fifteen days of the date of submission of the certificate. The formats of the contract agreement and installation certificate will be made available on the Distribution Licensee’s online portal, making the process more transparent and accessible to consumers.

These amendments are part of RERC’s ongoing efforts to align its regulations with central government policy and address practical challenges faced by consumers and institutions in the state. The changes are intended to create a more conducive environment for the adoption of renewable energy systems, streamline regulatory processes and provide greater flexibility and support to consumers, particularly educational institutions.

With these regulatory changes, RERC is taking significant steps to promote sustainable energy practices and support the broader goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the state’s energy mix. The Commission has invited interested parties to submit comments and suggestions on these draft regulations to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach before they are finalized. Interested parties are invited to provide feedback and suggestions on the proposed amending regulations.

For more details, please see the document below.

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