In a significant move to democratize solar power access, electricity distribution companies (discoms) in Jaipur issued comprehensive guidelines on Tuesday to implement virtual net metering and group net metering for the first time. This landmark policy is designed to empower consumers who lack suitable rooftop space to finally benefit from solar energy and achieve substantial reductions in their monthly electricity expenses.
Who Benefits from the New Solar Policy?
The new mechanism is set to unlock solar potential for a wide spectrum of consumers previously left out of the green energy transition. The policy specifically targets residents of multi-storey apartments, village dwellers, government and private offices, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and even large industrial units with a connected load of up to 1 megawatt (MW). For years, the absence of adequate or owned rooftop space had been a major roadblock for these groups wishing to install individual solar power systems.
To accelerate adoption, the discoms have also streamlined the approval process. Rooftop solar projects with a capacity of up to 10 kilowatts (kW) for domestic consumers will now be deemed approved without requiring any technical feasibility study. For systems with higher capacity, the timeline for technical clearance has been strictly capped. Existing consumers will receive clearance within 15 days, while new connections will be processed within 30 days.
Expanding Solar Installation Sites and Simplified Process
Highlighting the flexibility of the new framework, the guidelines permit the installation of solar plants not just on traditional rooftops. Consumers can now explore setting up panels on balconies, vacant private land, public land, and even over water bodies. This dramatically expands the possibilities for generating clean energy.
The application process has been centralized for user convenience. Interested consumers need to apply at their respective assistant engineer's office, which is now mandated to grant approval within a period of 30 days from receiving the application.
Financial Incentives and Charge Exemptions
To improve the economic viability of these projects, the discoms have announced a series of financial relief measures. Domestic consumers who opt for virtual or group net metering models will receive a complete exemption from wheeling charges, banking charges, and cross-subsidy surcharge. This makes the investment in solar significantly more attractive for households.
"Domestic consumers opting for these models will receive exemption from wheeling charges, banking charges and cross-subsidy surcharge, improving project economics," stated Arti Dogra, Chairperson of the discoms. Other consumer categories, including commercial and industrial users, will also receive relief on multiple charges. Under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, the applicable surcharge has been capped at 50% of the normal open access rates.
Virtual net metering allows electricity generated from a single solar plant at one location to be adjusted against the power bills of multiple consumers located within the same discom area. Group net metering, on the other hand, enables a single consumer to offset the solar power generated at one site against multiple electricity connections they own within the same discom zone. These innovative models are poised to transform solar energy adoption across Jaipur and serve as a model for other regions in India.
