The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued new regulations called the ‘Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Renewable Energy and Net Metering) Regulations, 2020’. As per the regulations, the distribution companies (discoms) have been directed to constitute an in-house renewable energy cell to promote deployment of renewable energy in the state. In case of failure to meet the timelines prescribed by the commission under these regulations, a penalty of Rs 1,000 per day for each day of delay will be imposed. The discoms have also been directed to provide net metering arrangements to prosumers on non-discriminatory and first come, first serve basis within 10 days from the date of submission of the approval of the renewable energy project.
In January 2020, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) issued new net metering regulations. These apply to net metering and net billing arrangements (gross metering), and grid-connected renewable energy generating systems tied to consumers’ electricity meters. According to the new regulations, the net metering arrangement or net billing arrangement will be permitted by distribution licensees on a non-discriminatory, first come, first served basis to eligible consumers that have already installed or are likely to install a renewable energy generating system connected to the distribution company’s network.