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Electricity rules amendment could improve green energy access for small consumers

(Mongabay News, 5 Jun 2023) The Ministry of Power has amended the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, with fresh provisions to support small consumers with better access to electricity through renewable energy sources.

The Electricity Rules were first notified in June 2022 after which there has been an amendment in January 2023 and now in May 2023. The latest amendment, now notified as the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2023, updates the definition of entity, eligibility criteria for open access, and adds offshore wind projects to the energy sources for which additional surcharge shall not be applicable.

As per the latest amendment, a consumer with an aggregate demand of a minimum 100 kW with multiple connections at different locations, within the defined operating area, can pool in their demand for open access of the green energy sources. This offers flexibility to consumers with single or with multiple connections to be eligible for green energy open access.

Earlier, the June 2022 notification noted that consumers with a load of 100 kW are eligible for open access but did not specify about single or aggregated multiple connections. The 2022 notification had also reduced the minimum requirement of energy for consumers seeking to purchase green energy via open access, from one MW to 100 kW, to enable consumers with a lower energy requirement, usually commercial or industrial entities of various sizes, to purchase renewable power.

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Mongabay News, 5 Jun 2023: Electricity rules amendment could improve green energy access for small consumers