Petition of GERC (Net Metering Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems) Regulations installing rooftop solar PV Plants under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana – EQ

Summary:

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### 🔹 **Case Title**

**Petition under Section 181 read with Section 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003**
and **Regulations 18–20 of the GERC (Net Metering Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems) Regulations, 2016**,
seeking **exemption from the requirement of entering into net metering agreements** for residential consumers installing **rooftop solar PV systems under the “PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.”**

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### 🔹 **Petitioners**

1. **Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL)** – *Adv. Ms. Ranjitha Ramchandran with Mr. K.M. Baleva*
2. **Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL)** – *No appearance*
3. **Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL)** – *Adv. Ms. Ranjitha Ramchandran with Mr. S.N. Parmar*
4. **Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL)** – *No appearance*

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### 🔹 **Petitioners’ Submissions**

* The **DISCOMs (UGVCL, PGVCL, etc.)** sought **regulatory relaxation/exemption** from the requirement of signing **net metering/interconnection agreements** with residential consumers installing rooftop solar under the **PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana**.
* They requested GERC to:

1. **Exercise powers to remove difficulties** under Section 181 and 86, OR
2. **Initiate amendment proceedings** to the 2016 Net Metering Regulations to formalize such exemption.
* The petition aims to **simplify implementation** of the national rooftop solar scheme by reducing procedural delays for residential users.

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### 🔹 **Respondent (Torrent Power Ltd. – TPL) Submissions**

* **Raised concerns** regarding the exemption, noting that:

* The **interconnection agreement** contains **critical techno-commercial terms**, including ownership, safety compliance, metering, billing, and settlement provisions.
* It also provides a **legal framework for dispute resolution** and is often required to be produced in court.
* Requested the Commission to **retain the requirement** of interconnection agreements for all net-metered systems.
* Cited a **Government of Gujarat (GoG) circular** dated **06.08.2025**, clarifying that:

* Consumers with **sanctioned load >6 kW** but **installing solar up to 6 kW** are still eligible for the **₹2,950 waiver** under PM Surya Ghar.
* However, TPL expressed **uncertainty** about its applicability to **private licensees** and requested clarity.

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### 🔹 **Commission’s Observations**

* The petition was filed properly under the relevant statutory provisions.
* Petitioners complied with **public notice requirements** (published in *Sandesh*, *Divya Bhaskar*, and *The Indian Express* on 09.08.2025).
* Only **one objection** was received (from Mr. Jayram C. Marathe); the petitioner filed its reply accordingly.
* Many respondents (Nos. 5–9) and the objector were **absent despite due notice**.
* **Petitioners requested more time** to reply to TPL’s submissions, which they had not received.
* **GERC directed**:

* **TPL** to share its reply with petitioners **within one week**.
* Petitioners may file **rejoinders within one week thereafter**.
* The Commission **reserved the matter for final order** after receiving all written submissions.

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### ⚙️ **Core Issue**

Whether residential consumers installing **rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar scheme** should be **exempted from signing interconnection/net metering agreements**, and if so, **whether GERC should amend** its **2016 Net Metering Regulations** to institutionalize such relaxation.

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### 📅 **Next Step**

* **TPL to file its response within 7 days.**
* **Petitioners to submit rejoinder within 7 days of receipt.**
* The matter stands **reserved for final order.**

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