In a bid to popularise the usage of solar power in the city, the UT Administration will soon adopt audio visual methods to promote awareness about the rules and regulations of solar city programme.
A high level meeting was convened in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil to review the policy issues including the sale of solar power, net metering among others concerning the development of Chandigarh as solar city.
During the meeting held on Monday, Patil asked the UT Administration to employ audio visual methods for publicity and awareness so that people in general are aware of regulations. He emphasized that Model Solar City Programme cannot be successful unless each and every person residing in Chandigarh participate in this and start taking initiatives to produce solar energy on its rooftop. Patil has asked the Administration to take help of Resident Welfare Associations in creating awareness among the masses. He also directed the UT Administration to take pro-active steps in making various stakeholders like industries, institutions and public to participate in the solar energy programme and earn profit by selling solar power.
During the meeting, Santosh Kumar, Director Science and Technology Department and CEO CREST informed that the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has come out with a draft solar power tariff – Grid Connected Ground Mounted Rooftop Mounted SPV and Rooftop Solar with Net Metering Regulations -2014 recently inviting comments from various stakeholders including public upto August 19.
Under the Draft Regulation, JERC has fixed the solar tariff at Rs.7.74 per unit for the solar power plant getting commissioned during the financial year 2014-15. JERC has also issued detailed guidelines on Net Metering in which any consumer installing Solar Rooftop Power Plant will be able to consume solar power generated on his Rooftop and would be able to export the excess power generated which can be banked with Electricity Department and can be adjusted in the future bill.
JERC has prepared comprehensive Net Metering Regulation clearly defining technical parameters like specifications of the Meter, Solar Power Plant etc. This year CREST is planning to install SPV Plants on 35 government schools of Chandigarh besides covering all police stations and E-Sampark Centers in Chandigarh.
The MNRE had chosen Chandigarh in the year 2008 for developing it into a solar city. Under UT Administration’s master plan, grid interactive solar voltage power plant (GISVPP) will be installed in all major Government buildings here and steps would be taken to promote use of solar energy in residential areas.