Delhi’s power regulator Delhi Electricity Regularity Commission (DERC) has notified group and virtual net metering framework, paving way for installation of rooftop and agri-solar plants in residential areas and villages in the city.
With the move, thousands of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and lakh of individuals will be able to take advantage of the schemes of the Delhi Government in the solar energy sector, with a particular push to rooftop solar energy.
Under ‘Group Net Metering’ (GNM), the surplus electricity exported into the grid through a net meter will be adjusted with other service connection(s) of the same consumer in the same discom area. Whereas, Virtual Net Metering (VNM) allow the renewable energy generator to export electricity into the grid through renewable energy meter or gross meter which can be adjusted in more than one electricity service connection of participating consumers in the same discom area.
A government official said that the GNM framework would be applicable to all consumers category in Delhi. Whereas, VNM framework shall be applicable for residential consumers, group housing societies, offices of government, local authorities and renewable energy generators registered under Mukhya Mantri Kisaan Aay Badhotari Yojna. Under the scheme, the Delhi government offices and buildings mainly of Delhi Jal Board, Health department, Public Works Departments (PWD) are mandated to procure green power generated from the plant installed under the scheme.
Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said that this is a big push for renewable energy in Delhi. “The Delhi Government has clearly outlined its energy vision for sustainability, decentralization, and anti-corruption. In collaboration with the DERC, honest politics and ethical policy decisions have been taken in the last five years which have ensured that tariffs don’t rise in the state of Delhi, making it the only Indian city and state to do so,” he said.
These guidelines will enable the speedy implementation solar projects under of Mukhya Mantri Kisaan Aay Badhotari Yojna and Mukhya Mantri Solar Power Yojana for domestic sector consumers in Delhi, helping the city take giant strides in sustainability and decentralization, he said.
“I urge the DERC, power department and the discoms to come together and incentivize decentralized green energy production for the sake of our future generations. I welcome all citizens, corporate and agricultural land owners and operators to take benefit of this framework,” he added.
As per guidelines, the renewable energy system capacity under GNM and VNM shall not be less than five kilowatts and more than 5000 kilo Watt. It also highlighted that distribution licensee shall facilitate and bear the capital expenditure on account of ‘service line cum development’ (SLD) and network augmentation towards renewable energy projects registered under Mukhya Mantri Kisaan Aay Badhotari Yojna. The cost incurred by distribution licensee shall be passing through in ‘Aggregate Revenue Requirement’ (ARR) for the schemes implemented up to 31st March 2022.
In order to get the GNM or VNM connection, the applicant shall submit an application along with non-refundable fees of Rs 1000 to discom to carry out the three-tier process of feasibility analysis, registration and connection agreement.