Rooftop solar; widespread concern over new rules; evidence collection on Tuesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is widespread concern over the draft rules of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has introduced new conditions for dealings of solar electricity. Many have switched to solar to escape the ever-increasing electricity costs. Consumers are worried that they will have to bear the financial burden again when the new regulations come. The Regulatory Commission has set up a forum on Tuesday to hear complaints. The opposition in previous years had made the public hearing tense. This time the hearing will be online.

The current net metering limit is 1000 kW. The new rule will reduce it to 3 kW. With this, there will be a limit to how much electricity can be drawn back from the grid at night compared to the amount of solar energy supplied during the day. Only those with less than 3 kW will get this benefit. Others will have to install batteries in homes and commercial establishments for solar power plants between three kilowatts and five kilowatts, or they will have to switch from net billing to gross metering. The Electricity Regulatory Commission clarified that the new directive will affect only a few people as 95% of the domestic solar power projects in the state of Kerala are below three kilowatts.

👉Current system
All the electricity supplied from the solar plant to KSEB will be returned in the same amount without paying any additional amount. It is a net meter system.

👉What if gross billing comes in?
Consumers will have to sell solar electricity to KSEB for a small amount. They will also have to pay a higher price for the electricity purchased from KSEB at night.

👉New rule
Batteries with a capacity of 30% of the solar power plant should be installed. With this, the construction cost will increase by about Rs 2 lakh. Currently, the construction cost is Rs 60,000 per kilowatt. 40% subsidy is available. However, there is no subsidy for installing batteries. A grid support charge of Rs 1 per unit will be charged for the electricity supplied to KSEB.