HERC Amends Green Energy Open Access Rules

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has approved the 'Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2023, 1st Amendment Regulations, 2025'. 

The amendments aim to align the state’s regulations with the central government’s Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022, and its subsequent updates.The revised regulations clarify that consumers with a contracted demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more, whether through a single connection or multiple connections aggregating 100 kW within the same electricity operation division of a distribution licensee, qualify for green energy open access. Additionally, there will be no limit on the supply of power for captive consumers utilising green energy open access.

The exemption from additional surcharges for electricity generated from offshore wind projects has been extended. Initially applicable to projects commissioned until December 2025, the exemption now applies to those commissioned up to December 2032. The amended regulations also state that eligible consumers not on independent feeders may be granted open access, provided they comply with system constraints and power cut restrictions imposed by the distribution licensee. Compensation will not be provided for under-drawal due to power cuts.

Key stakeholders, including Cleanmax Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Distributed Solar Power Association (DiSPA), Hexa Sun Energy Pvt. Ltd., and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (HVPNL), submitted feedback on the amendments. Cleanmax Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd. sought clarity on capacity restrictions for captive consumers and the applicability of Deviation Settlement Mechanism (DSM) charges for long-term open access consumers. They also proposed allowing the drawal of banked energy in higher time-of-day (ToD) slots with additional banking charges. The Distributed Solar Power Association (DiSPA) recommended that captive consumers be permitted to avail long-term, medium-term, and short-term open access simultaneously, even beyond their contract demand, provided total drawal remains within sanctioned demand. They also requested clarity on DSM charges and suggested replacing DSM penalties for over-drawal with standby charges capped at 25 percent of energy charges.

Hexa Sun Energy Pvt. Ltd. called for streamlined connectivity agreements for embedded consumers already connected to the distribution network. They also urged that consumers sourcing power from renewable energy not be penalised for exceeding admissible drawal limits if the excess results from under-injection by captive generators. Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd. (HVPNL) proposed replacing 'electricity division' with 'electricity operation division' for greater clarity and suggested introducing "lead consumer" and "member consumer" concepts to manage multiple small load connections efficiently.

The Commission clarified that the amendments were limited to eligibility criteria for green energy open access and the surcharge exemption for offshore wind projects. Issues beyond this scope, such as DSM charges and banking provisions, were deemed outside the purview of the current proceedings. However, HERC incorporated HVPNL’s proposals to replace 'consumers' with 'consumer' and 'electricity division' with "electricity operation division" in the final regulations.

These amendments are expected to facilitate renewable energy adoption in Haryana by simplifying open access provisions and extending incentives for offshore wind projects, encouraging more consumers to transition to green energy, and supporting the state’s renewable energy targets.