TNERC draft hikes solar purchase to two per cent

Total renewable energy obligation at 11 per cent for 2014-16

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has proposed a draft amendment to its renewable energy purchase obligation (RPO) regulation, increasing the solar energy purchase obligation from the current 0.5 per cent to a minimum of 2 per cent for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The draft amendment of TNERC (Renewable Energy Purchase Obligation) Regulations, 2010, had fixed the minimum quantum of total renewable purchase obligation at 11 per cent (in kWh of energy) for 2014-16.

However, the increased obligation is applicable only for the distribution licensee-- the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (Tangedco) for the time being, as the open access and captive consumers had obtained a stay from the Madras High Court against the RPO.

The draft amendment of TNERC states the distribution licensee, open access consumers and captive consumers are the obligated entities under the above regulation.

A stay was granted by the Madras High Court on a batch of writ petitions filed by open access and captive consumers, restraining the operation of the regulation to them, pending court approvals.

"With the writ petitions filed by open access and captive consumers pending before the Madras HC, the distribution licensee alone has to fulfil the RPO as specified in the regulations," stated the TNERC document.

The enforcement of RPO on captive and open access consumers is subject to outcome of the cases filed in the relevant judicial forums, said the commission.