West Bengal Proposes Allowing Net-Metering Only Upto 500 Kw

Unlike several state power regulators which allowed net-metering for higher capacities, the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) has proposed allowing net-meter for rooftop solar only upto 500 MW of capacities. This is in contrast to states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and others which have allowed net-metering for rooftop solar consumers upto 1 MW capacities. The state power regulator has asked the stakeholders to submit their views on the proposal by November 14.

“Net-metering shall be allowed to the prosumers having contract demand or sanctioned load of one Kw or above to setup rooftop solar systems for a minimum of 1 Kw capacity and maximum upto 500 kw or up to the contract demand or sanctioned demand, whichever is lower to offset the prosumer’s electricity consumption from the distribution licencee,” the WBERC draft rules said.

The draft regulations from WBERC is called West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar PV System For Prosumers) Regulations 2024. The state power regulatory has also limited the total number of capacities to be developed under rooftop solar for each discom in the state and said that the connections would be done on first come first serve basis.

For example it has earmarked a capacity of 51 MW capacity for RTS for WBSEDCL, 15 MW for CESC, 16 MW for DVC and 2 MW for IPCL. However, in a progressive step, the state power regulator has allowed the use of energy storage with grid-connected rooftop solar. However, it cautioned to ensure adequate arrangements to ensure the power from the solar system does not flow into the system during power cuts.

As per the new draft proposal, the rooftop prosumer is mandated to specify the category for grid-connected solar arrangements and adhere to it for six months. Additionally, the West Bengal regulatory body places the onus on the distribution licensee to modify net metering, net billing, or gross metering procedures. It allows applications for rooftop solar systems with up to 10 kW capacity to be deemed accepted without requiring a technical feasibility study. Moreover, the draft also provides for any necessary enhancement of the sanctioned load of the consumers, which can be carried out by the distribution licensee with the recovery of the expenditure.