The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) will hear the review petition, filed by Chandigarh Renewal Energy Science and Technology Society (CREST) challenging the Commission’s decision of fixing low tariff of Rs1.13 per unit for selling solar power on Wednesday. The JERC had in its orders passed in April approved the selling of solar power to UT Electricity Department at the rate of Rs1.13 per unit, as against Rs8.75 per unit which the CREST had demanded in a petition filed on behalf of UT Department of Science and Technology.
During the last hearing regarding review petition, the JERC had directed the CREST to submit quarterly compliance report of RPO (renewable purchase obligation) as provided under Regulation (Procurement of Renewable Energy), 2010 to the state agency and the Commission regularly as per tariff order FY 2014-15. Besides, the JERC will hold another hearing on Wednesday (July 30) regarding status report regarding consumer metering, reading and billing process in Chandigarh. The JERC had directed the Chandigarh Electricity Department (CED) to submit a detailed and complete report, action plan and road map on consumer meters, condition of meters, total meters before July 22. However, the CED had failed to compile the report in this regard. Taking suo motu notice of CED for not complying with JERC Regulations 2010 on meter reading and billing, the Commission had in 2012 issued orders to CED to replace the non-working meters and also submit a report, action plan and roadmap on replacing mechanical meters with electronic meters in a phased manner. The move was aimed at curtailing the transmission and distribution losses.