Rooftop solar policy: KSEB mulls increasing electricity rates by 19 paisa

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSEB warned of a plan to increase electricity tariffs by 19 paisa if rooftop solar continues to be installed in the state without battery storage. By 2034, this will increase to 39 paisa per unit.

KSEB is currently losing Rs 500 crore due to a defect in the rooftop solar installation. There are 1.30 crore electricity consumers in the state. Only two per cent of them have installed rooftop solar. To make up for the loss they cause, the remaining 98 per cent of consumers will have to be charged an additional amount. KSEB also announced that efforts are ongoing to amend the new green energy rules to prevent this.

The highest electricity demand in Kerala is between 6 pm and 11 pm, when solar power is not available. Only 36% of the electricity generated from rooftop solar power plants is used during the day. Under the current arrangements, KSEB is required to return to rooftop solar producers in the evening the same amount of electricity they feed into the grid during the day. During this time, electricity availability is low and prices are very high. This is causing a huge financial impact on KSEB.