Purapura 'betrayal' for Keralites; Rs 600 to Rs 1000 per month additional charges coming soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an awkward turn of events, Purapura Solar consumers will soon have to pay an additional Rs 600 to Rs 1000 per month. This will be implemented with the approval of the draft rules of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has made changes to the solar electricity transaction. The process is in its final stages.

The losses will be due to restrictions on net metering, the time zone factor imposed for supplying and taking back electricity from Purapura Solar to the grid, the grid support charge, and the suspension of the annual solar banking settlement. This will pave the way for Purapura going out of favour among people in Kerala. The unpleasant move from the Kerala government comes amidst the central government initiative to provide Purapura Solar to one crore homes in the country through PM Surya Ghar.

According to the Central Electricity Act of 2023, up to 10 kilowatts can be allowed without net metering conditions. No changes were imposed in the neighbouring state of Karnataka and Gujarat, the first states in the country in solar power generation.

People are switching to solar to escape the frequently increasing electricity tariff. The attraction is the subsidy provided by the central government. Tension is brewing among people who have already switched to solar, only now to pay additional tariffs.

Draft zones are divided into three time zones: 6 am to 6 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm and 10 pm to 6 am. Of these, a factor of 0.67 is taken for the hours from 6 pm to 10 pm and a factor of 0.85 for the hours from 10 pm to 6 am. Earlier, it could be taken completely without any conditions.

For a solar rooftop consumer who installed a 3kW solar plant and generates an average of four units per kWh per day and pays zero energy charges, the liability arising from the draft 'zone factor' alone is Rs 177 per month. This will increase to Rs 254 for a 4kW plant, Rs 329 for a 5kW plant, Rs 801 for a 10kW plant and Rs 2694 for a 20kW plant.

The suspension of the electricity banking facility will increase the liability arising from the difference between the unit rate as per the tariff and the settlement rate.