The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has introduced amendments to the Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2023, following a public hearing. A key change clarifies that consumers with a contracted demand of 100 kW and above, either through a single connection or multiple connections within the same electricity operation division of a distribution licensee, will be eligible for Green Energy Open Access. Previously, only individual consumers with a minimum contracted demand of 100 kW qualified.
Additionally, offshore wind projects commissioned until December 2032 will be exempted from additional surcharges when supplying power to open access consumers, extending the previous exemption deadline of December 2025. These amendments address concerns raised by various stakeholders like Cleanmax Enviro Energy Solutions, the Distributed Solar Power Association, Hexa Sun Energy, and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam regarding eligibility, open access for non-independent feeder consumers, and compensation for power restrictions.
Eligible consumers not on independent feeders will be permitted open access but must adhere to system constraints and power cut restrictions imposed by the distribution licensee, without compensation for under-drawal caused by these restrictions. The Commission also incorporated wording modifications suggested by stakeholders to enhance clarity in the regulations, including adjustments to consumer-related terminologies. Furthermore, it acknowledged concerns regarding imbalance charges and confirmed that captive consumers may simultaneously avail long-term, medium-term, and short-term open access, provided they do not exceed their approved contract demand.
