Maharashtra Discom Stumps Consumers Again With Anti-Solar Move In Tariff Proposal

One of the reasons Maharashtra has been a relative underperformer in Solar has been the approach taken by key discoms in the state, notable the MSEDCL or Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited towards   the clean source of energy. From earlier efforts to limit net metering, to favouring gross metering, the MSEDCL has usually made no bones of its anti-solar stance, while pushing for larger thermal buys for the state’s electricity requirements.

After multiple efforts at reform, the discom has now picked on Time of Day(TOD) meters as the latest effort to stymie solar benefits. Consumers in the state, notably Pune where the latest MSEDCL push has shown up, are protesting, and rightfully so. And keep in mind that this is the same discom that recently announced the installation of modern Time of Day (TOD) meters free of cost for consumers. The discom claimed that these advanced meters will enable consumers to track their electricity consumption in real time through mobile devices, ensuring accurate billing and better energy management.

In its latest proposed tariff proposal, MSEDCL has formally set off peak hours from 9am to 5 pm. Coinciding exactly with solar hours, more or less. No big deal and common sense, right? But in the new proposal, excess units generated during off peak hours will be set off only against demand in the same time slot, reducing the benefits of solar systems for home owners significantly. The move, if it catches on with other state discoms, could easily trip up the PM Suryaghar Scheme and its targets, or leave a very large section of unhappy users.

After all, users installing solar systems have been promised zero bills if they generate as much, or more than their total consumption. that means, units generated during solar hours could be used to set off consumption in the evenings or peak hours as well.

In case you are unable to use your units during the off peak hours, MSEDCL will pay for 88% of the remaining units at a rate of ₹3 to ₹3.50 per unit. Leaving consumers with a bill for the electricity used during prime hours (6pm-9am).

The proposal might seem to have some logic behind it, but falls flat in the face of promises made to consumers across the board until now, and certainly does not deserve to pass. If it does, expect it to have a chilling effect on a significant share of future solar additions in the residential rooftop segment.