Maharashtra Boosts Green Power Access with Regulatory Overhaul

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has introduced amendments to its Distributed Open Access Regulations, aligning them with the Ministry of Power's Green Energy Open Access Rules.

Under the revised regulations, consumers with a contract demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more, or entities consolidating multiple connections totalling 100 kW or more within the same electricity division of a distribution company (DISCOM), now have the opportunity to procure power from renewable sources through open access.

One notable change is the exemption of captive consumers utilizing open access from restrictions on power availability. To ensure transparency, consumers must inform DISCOM about the proportionate distribution of energy from renewable projects to each connection in cases of multiple connections before initiating green energy open access.

Eligible consumers committing to at least twelve-time blocks are prohibited from adjusting power consumption amounts during open access. Those with rooftop PV systems can simultaneously engage in open access. The Maharashtra State Load Dispatch Centre and the state transmission utility will serve as nodal agencies for short-term and medium or long-term green energy open access, respectively.

Crucially, the cross-subsidy surcharge for consumers opting for green energy open access and purchasing from a renewable project is capped at 50 percent of the annual surcharge for 12 years from the project's operational date. 

Notably, no surcharge applies for consumers procuring power from waste-to-energy projects or using green power for producing green ammonia or green hydrogen. Furthermore, time-of-day meter-based open access is permitted for contracts with demand below 1 MW, offering flexibility to smaller consumers in their green energy endeavours.