No Need For Feasibility Reports For Rooftop Solar Below 10kw: Draft Rule

The Ministry of Power, in its latest draft notification, has proposed amending the electricity rules for rooftop solar. As per the latest draft rule, the authorities will remove the requirement to undertake technical feasibility studies for rooftop solar projects below 10 kilowatts (KW).

The new draft rules, named Electricity (Rights of Consumers Second Amendment) Rules 2023, plan to amend the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules 2020. The new rules proposed amending the sub-rule 7 of Rule 11, which discusses prosumers”. Prosumers refer to consumers who consume electricity and produce the same as rooftop solar consumers.

As per the proposed plan, the technical feasibility study of rooftop solar projects will be undertaken within a specified period, specified by the Commission, not exceeding 15 days. It also said that no technical feasibility study would be undertaken for the installation of rooftop solar up to 10 kW. It also, however, added, “provided that the appropriate commission may prescribe a higher limit exceeding 10 kw for exemption from technical feasibility study.”

The new rules also proposed changing sub-rule 9 of rule 11. The new rules reduced the timeline for signing contracts for rooftop solar from 20 days to 15 days.

The new rules said, “After installation of a solar PV system, the consumer shall submit the installation certificate to the distribution licensee. The licensee shall complete the signing of the connection agreement of the solar PV system within the timelines specified by the Commission, which shall not be more than 15 days from the date of submission of the installation certificate. Formats of contract agreement and installation certificate shall be placed on the discoms web portal.”

The new rules also talked about the establishment of electricity charging connections for consumers of electric vehicles. It said that the discoms need to have a separate connection for the supply of electricity for the EV charging system if requested by the individual consumer of a group housing society or residential colony or the resident welfare associations or similar body registered with the appropriate government.