MNRE Offers Solutions for Invoicing for Renewable Energy Supplied During Lockdown

MNRE has issued a new notification, offering viable solutions for invoicing for renewable energy (RE) supplied during the ongoing lockdown

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a new notification to offer relief to stakeholders as the renewable energy industry grapples with the ongoing lockdown imposed to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In the latest notification, the ministry has offered viable solutions for invoicing for renewable energy (RE) supplied.

The ministry has revealed that it has received representations from the RE industry, submitting that the present lockdown due to COVID-19 may lead to disruption in the normal process of invoicing for renewable energy supplied by various RE generating stations as providing physical copies of invoices after Joint Meter Reading (JMR) under the current situation may not be possible. And has thus requested the ministry for easing out the invoicing mechanism to ensure timely payments to RE generators

The matter has been examined and after consideration of all factors, it has been decided that for the time period till which the lockdown due to COVID-19 persists, the billing/invoicing in respect of solar /wind /hybrid /small hydro /waste to energy /biomass power generating stations shall continue as follows:

(a). Where billing is done through REA (Regional Energy Account)/ SEA (State Energy Account):

(i). Invoices may be accepted over e-mail and due date may be calculated as per terms of PPA (waiving off hard copy submission only)

(b). Where billing is done through JMR (Joint Meter Reading):

(i). In the case where JMR is available, invoices may be accepted over e-mail and due date may be calculated as per terms of PPA (waiving off hard copy submission only)

(i). In cases where JMR cannot be signed due to lockdown, the invoice generated by the RE power developer based upon the meter reading (photographs of the meter reading/ downloaded meter data to be enclosed) may be accepted. Alternately, Discoms may choose to pay on the basis of the invoice for the same month of the previous year, if it is lower. For newly commissioned projects, Discoms may choose to pay on the basis of the invoice of the previous month, if it is lower.

(c). All the solar /wind /hybrid /small hydro/waste to energy /biomass power developers will be required to submit hard copies of invoices within 15 working days of the date declaring lockdown period over for necessary adjustment, if any, from the subsequent bill.