Karnataka: KERC Notifies New Fee Structure For Energy Stakeholders

Karnataka: KERC Notifies New Fee Structure For Energy Stakeholders

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has released its latest order, notifying the fee structure applicable to various stakeholders in the state’s power sector. The commission, after issuing a draft notification, has finalized and published the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Fee) Regulations, 2024.

These regulations outline the fees for different categories of applications and cases within the power sector. According to the document, every application for a license or exemption from a license, until a specific fee is prescribed, must include a processing fee of ₹50,000.

Licence Fees

The regulations mandate all licensees to pay their annual license fees within the specified timeframe to avoid penalties. Under the new rules:

• Discoms are required to pay ₹20 lakh per annum.
• State transmission utilities must pay ₹20 lakh annually.
• Other transmission licensees will be charged ₹1 lakh per MW of transmission capacity.
• Rural electric cooperative societies are granted reduced fees of ₹3 lakh per annum.

Court Fees

The commission has also revised court fees for filing petitions, with charges varying based on the nature of the application. Key fees include:

• ₹2.5 lakh for amendments to licenses.
• ₹1 lakh for petitions related to specific conditions of discom licenses.

Tariff Petition Fees

In a notable development, KERC has provided fee relief for tariff determination applications related to green projects. The revised charges are:

• ₹7,500 per MW for conventional fuel-based plants.
• ₹3,000 per MW for renewable energy projects, with a minimum fee of ₹25,000 per application.

This fee structure reflects KERC’s efforts to streamline financial processes while encouraging the adoption of renewable energy within Karnataka’s power sector.