Home »Policies» Punjab's Policy on Net Metering of Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants

(1) This policy applies to distribution licensees and consumers of distribution licensees in Punjab.

(2) Eligible consumers can install rooftop solar systems under the net metering arrangement;

(a) It should be within the allowable rated capacity defined in this policy.

(b) Should be located at the consumer's premises.

(c) It shall be interconnected with the distribution licensee's network and run in parallel safely.

(3) In spite of the provisions of this policy, relevant state departments have the right to undertake rooftop solar projects with a capacity exceeding 1 megawatt peak (MWp) through an alternative mechanism.

(4) This policy will continue to apply unless it is repealed or replaced by a new policy.

(5) The provisions of NRSE policy 2012 are also applicable to solar power plants under this policy.

Eligibility:-All consumers and institutions who intend to encourage solar energy and build solar photovoltaic power plants in available places on the roofs of individual households, industrial, government or semi-government or local agencies, commercial agencies, or PSPCL , Residential areas should meet the conditions, and the project capacity ranges from a minimum of 1 KWp to a maximum of 1 MWp (AC side) with or without backup battery support. Consumers can generate solar energy for their own use, or send excess electricity to the grid, and make adjustments in accordance with Article 13 of this policy.

Third-party self-owned rooftop photovoltaic net metering mode:- (1) In the third-party self-owned rooftop photovoltaic net metering model, the developer or intermediary rents out the solar photovoltaic system to interested rooftop owners. For residential owners, this may be a popular model where turnkey installers rent out the roof system to individual owners, who in turn pay them rent each month. The homeowner provides the roof and hires turnkey installers to design and install the system. Alternatively, the installer can also provide the owner with a comprehensive service of leasing, debugging and maintaining the system and ensuring performance standards. The electricity generated by this type of system is used to meet the internal electricity demand of the roof owner, while the excess electricity is merged into the grid in a net metering manner. This model has the following advantages:-

(2) Benefits for roof owners: The owners avoid a large amount of upfront investment in solar energy equipment, and sometimes avoid the technical or performance risks of the solar energy system. Net metering allows roof owners to save electricity from grid consumption to solar power generation. Part of the electricity savings will be shared with developers through leasing.

(3) Benefits to developers: The leasing company generates income from renting the roof owners through the contract. Since it is still the owner of the equipment, it is also eligible to apply for depreciation of the capital cost of the photovoltaic system and related direct tax incentives.

(4) However, for all intents and purposes, PSPCL only deals with roof owners or consumers, and the arrangements between roof owners and developers are personal to them.

(5) According to the current open access regulations, systems owned by such third parties may lead to open access transactions and generate rotation fees and surcharges related to cross-subsidy. In order to encourage green energy, such rooftop solar system installations set up in accordance with this policy will not be subject to open access regulations.

Net metering:- (1) As long as the total capacity (in megawatts) does not exceed self-owned and third-party-owned rooftop photovoltaic systems, the power distribution licensee shall allow non-discriminatory netting on a first-come, first-served basis. The metering arrangement exceeds the determined target capacity.

(2) The distribution licensee shall receive 25 years of solar photovoltaic power in accordance with the service life of the SPV system.

The capacity objectives of the distribution licensee:- (1) The maximum cumulative capacity installed in accordance with this policy shall be determined by GOP annually. The shortfall in any year is carried forward to the next year, but the allowable cumulative capacity of a specific distribution transformer shall not exceed 30% of the rated capacity of the distribution transformer; preemptive strike. Applications that have not been considered will become invalid and consumers must reapply in the next financial year.

(2) The holder of the distribution license shall update the distribution transformer-level capacity that can be used to connect the rooftop solar system under the net metering arrangement on October 1 of each year, and shall provide the information on its website and to the Commission and PEDA.

Installed capacity:-According to the rated capacity of the inverter, the maximum capacity of the rooftop solar photovoltaic system mentioned on the AC side of the inverter output shall not exceed 80% of the approved connected load or contract demand (converted in KVA) with a standard power factor of 0.90 ) Is KW, and the minimum capacity must not be less than 1 KW. Eligible consumers should evaluate the capacity of their rooftop solar photovoltaic power plants based on the roof area or vacant space with unclear shadows, SCL or CD, actual annual energy consumption patterns, and distribution transformer capacity.

SPV power station and metering:-All equipment related to solar power station installation, such as solar photovoltaic panels, inverters; synchronizers, MPPT, batteries, transformers, cables, junction boxes, etc. should be brand new and comply with the latest Indian/IEC standards . The two-way electric energy meter with CT and PT, if necessary, has the function of recording energy input and output. In addition to other parameters, other parameters should comply with CEA measurement regulations or applicable national grid codes, as well as PSPCL approved manufacturing and specifications. Installed by the SPV factory owner at the interconnection point between the consumer system and the PSPCL system. The plant owner can choose to install meters and measuring equipment purchased by PSPCL, or purchase from a supplier approved by PSPCL. If the metering system is purchased by the factory owner, the testing and installation of meters including CT and PT should be carried out from PSPCL in accordance with the latest department instructions, and no meter rent will be charged. PSPCL shall seal the tested two-way electric energy meter in accordance with the common practice of PSPCL. The detailed information of the energy meter is given in Appendix I.

Connection and protection:-The solar photovoltaic roof system should allow automatic synchronization or desynchronization of facilities at the power generation voltage level with the licensee's power distribution system. It will use the same service line to inject surplus power into the grid, which is currently being used by consumers to draw power from the public network and run synchronously with the PSPCL system, provided that the injected power of the rooftop solar photovoltaic system should be in one place. During the settlement period, the total consumption of consumers from the supply of the licensee shall not exceed 90%. Solar rooftop generators should be compulsorily required to provide appropriate protection systems on their incoming lines or power-consuming ends, and have the characteristics of "islanded SPV generators" to achieve isolation between the power-consuming system and the public power system during the power grid. Faults include protection against voltage/lightning surges. The power conditioning unit of the SPV power station should have the function of filtering out harmonics and other distortions before injecting energy into the PSPCL system. Harmonics and inverter standards are given in Annex II and III.

Solar renewable energy purchase obligations:-The electricity consumed by qualified consumers (not defined as obligatory entities) from rooftop solar systems under the net metering arrangement shall meet the renewable energy purchase obligations (RPO) of the power distribution license holder.

Applicability of other expenses:-The rooftop solar system under the net metering arrangement, whether self-owned or third-party owned, installed in eligible consumer places, shall be exempted from bank and transportation fees and losses, cross subsidies and surcharges, etc. MMC shall apply in accordance with Article 13(5).

Eligibility to participate in the renewable energy certificate mechanism:-The issuance of renewable energy certificates shall be in accordance with the regulations of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Recognition and Issuance of Renewable Energy Certificates for Renewable Energy Power Generation), the qualification standards specified in 2010.

Banking mechanism and billing:- (1) During the commissioning of the solar roof system and at the end of each billing cycle/settlement period, PSPCL will obtain the meter readings of the input or output or injected electricity and calculate the amount from or to consumers Net energy flux. If the net traffic flows to PSPCL, that is, the consumer has injected/exported net remaining energy to the PSPCL system, such amount will be regarded as the energy stored by the consumer using PSPCL in the current billing cycle. In this case, consumers will receive energy account statements, meter rents, service fees and other expense bills, and carry over the stored energy for accounting in the next billing cycle. If the net energy flow comes from PSPCL, then energy account statements and energy bills will be issued to consumers for the net power consumed during the billing period and other expenses.

(2) The energy account statement issued by PSPCL to consumers in each billing period should display the amount of energy output/injected into the rooftop solar photovoltaic system, the energy input/extracted from PSPCL, and the energy stored during the billing period. In the previous billing cycle, the net billing energy or net bank energy paid by the consumer in the billing cycle is carried forward to the next billing cycle. The Imported Energy Bill will be prepared based on the retail supply tariffs of the consumer category approved by PSERC. The energy exported from the rooftop solar photovoltaic system to the PSPCL should be offset against the energy imported from the PSPCL grid in accordance with the retail supply tariffs approved by PSERC applicable to specific consumer categories.

(3) At the end of the next and subsequent billing period/settlement period, PSPCL will calculate the net flow based on the energy meter readings, taking into account the energy stored in the previous billing period (if any), together with the readings of the current billing period. Export electricity and calculate net energy account bills based on specific conditions. This process will repeat at the end of each billing period. At the end of each settlement period, a net energy settlement is made at 90% of the consumption, including any stored energy. At the beginning of each settlement period, the accumulated carry-over injected energy should be reset to zero.

(4) All rules and regulations, including tariffs, are subject to PSERC's orders and the terms and conditions specified in the application and agreement (A&A) form. The licensee and seller of such rooftop solar photovoltaic power supply should sign an additional form or memorandum of understanding, which should include necessary terms and conditions such as meter reading, meter reading, billing, payment, payment security arrangements, delayed payment surcharge rates, etc. . And will become part of the A&A form.

(5) All instructions, rules and regulations applicable to PSPCL consumers of applicable categories/categories, including but not limited to tariff rates, payment schedules, delayed payment surcharges, connection loads/contract requirements, load surcharges, peak loads As consumers of PSPCL, owners of Roof Top Solar power plants should also apply restrictions, prepaid consumption deposits, etc. Electricity fees shall be levied in accordance with the GOP directive revised from time to time, and currently ED applies to the net electricity consumers obtain from PSPCL.

As long as consumers who have installed solar power plants consume electricity from PSPCL and/or solar power stored in solar power plants or banks in any billing period that meet or exceed the MMC level, the monthly minimum charge (MMC) shall not be levied.

Procedure:-Consumers who intend to install rooftop photovoltaic systems can download the Solar Net Metering Roof Application and Agreement form from PSPCL's website, and submit the form to the designated official of PSPCL to obtain installation license plants. After reviewing the feasibility, PSPCL will issue an approval letter to the applicant within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application. Consumers should establish a factory within 180 days and submit a work completion report and a synchronization and protection arrangement single-line diagram issued by the factory supplier/EPC contractor, indicating that the factory has been installed in accordance with the approved standards and specifications. After the on-site inspection, PSPCL shall install and seal the two-way electric energy meter within 10 days after submitting the report. From that date, the factory will be deemed to be commissioned for net metering commercial operation. If there is a delay, the consumer must obtain a further extension from PSPCL. Such extensions can only be granted for a maximum of 2 months. If the project has not started even during the extended period of 2 months, the granted approval will automatically become invalid. However, he will be eligible to apply in the next fiscal year, but his application will be kept at the bottom of the list of applicants, only all applicants above him have been selected and there is still capacity available for allocation.

Restrictions on the penetration level of the overall or local grid:- (1) The rooftop solar system based on net metering is a small-capacity system and is expected to spread rapidly when the policies and procedures are favorable. The impact and spread of the roof based on net metering will have an impact on the local power grid. The local power grid must solve the technical, safety, and power grid security issues caused by the possible backflow of power in the local power grid. As long as the allowable cumulative capacity of a particular distribution transformer shall not exceed 30% of the rated capacity of the distribution transformer, the distribution licensee shall provide net metering arrangements to all eligible consumers.

(2) The power distribution utility company to which consumers are connected can enjoy the benefits that are regarded as RPO for consumers who are not defined as obligatory entities under the RPO framework, as long as these consumers do not choose REC as a qualified entity Framework of self-consumption. This will encourage utility companies to promote the implementation of rooftop solar projects based on small-capacity net metering.

(3) The electricity consumed by eligible consumers, which is not defined as an obligatory entity for rooftop solar systems under the net metering arrangement, shall be regarded as the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) of the distribution licensee.

Application fee:-Applicants should pay an application fee of Rs. 50/KVA and the application of PSPCL. According to NRSE policy 2012, no parallel operation fees may be imposed on these projects.

The technical and interconnection requirements shall be given in Appendix-IV.

Operation and maintenance:- (1) The solar power station shall comply with the relevant standards stipulated by MNRE/BIS and CEA. The responsibility for the operation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic (SPV) generators (including all accessories and equipment) rests with consumers. The design and installation of rooftop photovoltaic power stations should be equipped with appropriately rated protection devices to sense any abnormal conditions in the system and automatically isolate the photovoltaic power station from the grid. The inverter used should meet the necessary quality requirements and obtain quality certification from the relevant department; the protection logic should be tested before the factory trial operation.

(2) It should be ensured that SPV's automatic isolation or islanding protection is within the required response time when there is no grid power supply and low voltage or overvoltage. The input and output sides of the inverter should be equipped with sufficient rated fuses, fast-acting circuit breakers, and isolating/isolating switches to isolate the DC and AC systems for maintenance. Consumers should provide all internal safety and protection mechanisms for grounding, surges, DC ground faults, transients, etc.

(3) To prevent backflow and possible accidents by DISCOM personnel during maintenance work, a two-pole/three-pole with a neutral isolation disconnect switch that can be locked by DISCOM personnel should be provided. This is a supplement to the automatic induction and isolation of grid power supply faults and the internal disconnect switch. In the event of a DISCOM LT/HT supply failure, consumers must ensure that no solar energy is fed into DISCOM's LT/HT grid. Consumers are fully responsible for any human/animal accidents (fatal/non-fatal/departmental/non-departmental) that may occur due to feedback from the SPV power plant when the grid supply is shut down. DISCOM reserves the right to disconnect the installation at any time when its power grid, meters, etc. are damaged or to prevent accidents or damage.

(4) Consumers shall comply with all specifications and regulations issued by the Commission to the extent applicable and effective from time to time. Consumers should comply with the requirements of PSERC/DISCOM/CEA for the safe, reliable and reliable functions of SPV power plants and power grids. The power injected into the grid should meet the required quality in terms of waveform, frequency, and no DC component.

(5) Consumers should limit the generation of harmonics to the limits stipulated in the agreement or the Central Electricity Bureau when issuing such regulations.

(6) SPG (personal home/commercial organization) can build LT grid interactive solar power station on the roof or elevated surface, with the following options:

(A generation). Grid interactive solar photovoltaic system without batteries.

(two). Grid interactive solar photovoltaic system with battery backup.

However, in these two options, the functions in sections (2) and (3) above should be provided to ensure the islanding of the SPV system and prevent feedback to the PSPCL grid system.

(7) Inverter standards should not allow solar/battery power to be extended to DISCOM's LT grid when DISCOM's grid supply fails, regardless of LT connection options. Annex 3 provides the required three-phase and single-phase solar inverter standards.

(8) The inverter should be a sine wave inverter. The harmonic standards shall comply with IEEE 519.

Applicability of Renewable Energy Certificate and RPO:-Net metering injection does not comply with REC. The electricity consumed by eligible consumers, which is not defined as an obligatory entity for rooftop solar systems under the net metering arrangement, should be regarded as the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) of the distribution licensee.

Penalties or compensation:-If the net metering system fails, the penalties or compensation shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations of the sales licensee’s performance standards.

The power to interpret, relax and modify:-The Minister of New Energy and Renewable Energy is the ultimate power to interpret any regulations, and can relax any regulations of this policy through general or special orders, and add, change, change, suspend, modify, and revise from time to time. Amend or abolish any provisions of this policy.

Subsidies:- (1) Consumers who are interested in building solar rooftop photovoltaic projects can apply to PEDA for applicable MNRE and Indian government grants in accordance with current instructions/policies.

(2) According to NRSE policy 2012, solar power plants will be eligible for financial and other incentives.

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Manu is the associate editor of Saur Energy International. He is responsible for writing and editing clean and green energy news, feature articles and interviews with industry veterans, with a special focus on solar, wind and finance.

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