The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has come out with a complete regulatory framework for Grid Connected Distributed Renewable Energy Sources in the state. Replacing the existing Net Metering Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive Systems Regulations, 2016, the new regulations will serve as guiding principles regarding how residential, commercial, and industrial consumers can go about using DRES.
Under this regulatory framework, GERC has defined five different metering methods, including Net Metering, Net Billing, Gross Metering, Group Net Metering, and Virtual Net Metering. In case of Net Metering and Net Billing, systems with capacity up to 1 kW AC to 1,000 kW AC / 1,250 kWp DC are permissible.
Gross Metering should be within the range of 6 kW AC to 4,000 kW AC. With Group Net Metering, consumers shall be allowed to utilize electricity generated by them across different connections owned by the same entity within the consumer category and with capacity up to 1,000 kW AC.
The Virtual Net Metering also offers a way for the community to embrace renewable energy together, through energy sharing between various sites under the jurisdiction of the same distribution licensee. The size of the installation possible under this setup would vary anywhere from 10 kW AC up to 4,000 kW AC.
