Any residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial building with a roof can have solar panels with net metering installed in Assam. It comes in two varieties.

​​Solar Rooftop System with Storage facility :

Such rooftop systems have batteries as a means of storage. The battery stores the solar energy, which can be used at night or when the sun is not shining.

Grid Connected Solar Rooftop System with net metering (Assam):

Depending on the capacity of the system installed at the institution/commercial establishment or residential complex, the DC power generated from the SPV panel in a grid-connected rooftop or small SPV system is converted to AC power using a power conditioning unit and fed to the grid either of 33 kV/11 kV three phase lines or of 440/220 Volt three/single phase lines.

As long as the grid is operational, these systems provide power during the day that is completely consumed by powering captive loads and feed extra power to the grid. When solar power is insufficient owing to cloud cover or other factors, captive loads are powered by grid electricity.

Where net metering plants can be set up (Assam) : 

Such rooftop systems can be set up on the roofs of residential and commercial buildings, housing cooperatives, community centers, governmental organizations, private institutions, etc.

Roofspace needed to install a rooftop solar system that is connected to the grid (Assam):

The area needed to install a 1 kWp grid-connected rooftop solar system is approximately 10 sq. m.

Size of grid connected rooftop solar system:

Rooftop solar systems that are connected to the grid can range in size from 1 kWp to 500 kWp or be installed in combination.

Advantages of Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar System:

Electricity generation at the consumption center and hence reductions in distribution and transmission losses

1. Short gestation period

2. There is no need for more land

3. Enhanced self-consumption of solar electricity results in improved tail-end grid voltages and decreased system congestion.

4. Creation of locally based jobs

Net Metering:

The grid-connected rooftop system can operate on a net metering basis in assam, in which case the beneficiary only pays the utility based on net metre readings. Alternately, two meters can be set up to manage electricity import and export separately. The gross metering system at a mutually acceptable price can also be used.

Applicability: 

 These Regulations shall apply to the distribution licensee/ licensees and consumers of electricity of distribution licensee/ licensees in the State of Assam.  A Solar Grid Interactive system installed in premises may be owned by consumer or a Third party.

 Eligibility: 

The solar system installed by the qualified consumer may not exceed the permitted rated capacity as specified by these regulations. must be situated on the consumer’s property. should safely connect to and run in parallel with the network of the distribution licensee.

General Principles: 

1. In accordance with the policy directives of the Government of Assam, the distribution licensee may adopt the provision of either NET metering or EXIM metering arrangements for customers who intend to install grid-connected solar systems in the licensee’s area of supply on a non-discriminatory and first come, first serve basis.

2. The metering plan chosen by the distribution licensee is definitive and will be used for all customers of that distribution licensee.

Capacity of Distribution Transformer: 

1. The capacity of a specific distribution transformer must not be less than the limits as from time to time prescribed by the Commission in order to be permitted for connectivity under these Regulations.

2. The distribution licensee must update the capacity of distribution transformers available for connecting rooftop solar systems under NET/EXIM metering arrangements on an annual basis and must also give the Commission a copy of the information.

Individual Project Capacity and Interconnection Voltage: 

1. The AERC (Electricity Supply Code and associated issues Regulations) 2017 as revised from time to time specifies the inter-connecting voltage level of the GIS for a variety of capacity ranges.

2. The Grid Interactive Solar System’s solar panel capacity, which must be installed, must range from 1 kWp to 1000 kWp with the following restrictions: Where connecting with the grid is technically possible, the maximum solar panel capacity for any one LT category user will be 80% of the linked load/contract demand. All such LT category consumers linked to a distribution transformer will have a combined solar panel capacity that is no greater than 20% of the distribution transformer’s peak capacity. Where connecting with the grid is technically possible, the maximum solar panel capacity for any one HT category client will be 80% of the linked load/contract demand.  The cumulative solar panel capacity of all such HT category consumers connected to a 33/11KV Sub-station will be limited to 20 % of the peak capacity of the Sub- station.

 3. The installation of larger plants by State Generating Companies or Distribution licensees is not restricted, provided that they are compatible with the system and the appropriate safety precautions are followed.

Interconnection with the Grid Specifications, Standards and Safety Requirements: 

1. The distribution licensee must make sure that: The interconnection of the solar energy system with the licensee’s distribution system complies with the requirements and standards set forth in the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply), Regulations, 2010, as amended, and the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for connectivity of Distributed Generation Resources), Regulations, 2013, as amended.

2.The Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006, as amended from time to time, specify the requirements, specifications, and accuracy class for the installed NET meter or EXIM meter.

3. Depending on the size of the solar generator and the supply voltage, the qualified customer must receive the requisite clearance/approval for commissioning a Grid Interactive System from the State Electrical Inspectorate.

Energy Accounting and Settlement Net Metering Arrangement: 

 Along with the power bill, the licensee must provide the customer with a statement of accounts of electricity for each billing month that includes the information below:

the amount of electricity that was banked during the previous billing cycle and carried forward;

the amount of electricity that the qualified consumer injects into the distribution system;

Quantity of electricity given to the qualified user by the distribution licensee;

Amount of net electricity that has been billed to the qualifying Consumer for payment.

When the amount of electricity provided by the distribution licensee during a billing period is greater than the amount of electricity produced by a solar system owned by an eligible consumer, the distribution licensee is required to submit a bill for the net electricity consumption, which includes any electricity credit balances from prior billing periods. 

If there is excess electricity injected by the eligible customer to the licensee at the end of the “settlement period,” the licensee is required to pay for it at the average power purchase cost (APPC) of electricity as determined by the Commission. The cumulative carried over injected electricity will be reset to zero at the start of each settlement period.

 EXIM Metering Arrangement: 

 The consumer’s use of grid energy throughout a month will be paid in accordance with the category’s current tariff. When calculating the price owed by the consumer for adding solar energy to the grid, 100% of the APPC rate must be taken into consideration. The monthly bill will be modified to reflect this amount. Beyond 90% of the energy used from the grid during the billing period, no payment shall be given by DISCOM for any excess energy injected from the RTS Plant to the grid. Additionally, cumulative carried over injected electricity will be reset to zero at the start of each settlement period.

Metering Arrangement: 

1. A NET meter or EXIM meter must be installed at the points where eligible consumers connect to the distribution licensee’s network.

2. The meters must meet the requirements announced by the responsible authorities or have accuracy class 0.5 or better.

3. Check meters are optional for solar energy systems with a capacity of less than or equal to 20 KWp, but they must be installed for systems with a capacity of more than 20 KWp.

4. The requirements of the AERC (Electricity Supply Code), 2017, as amended from time to time, shall apply to the supply and installation of meters, action on defective meters, and other matters relating to meters.

  Connection of Meters and Protective Devices: 

In an SPV plant, the safety requirements such as the ability to “island” in the event of grid failure and the isolation of the battery power supply when the grid is connected should be included. Additionally, a diagram of the actual installation indicating all components shall be prominently displayed.

1. In accordance with the policy directives of the Government assam, the distribution licensee may adopt the provision of either NET metering or EXIM metering arrangements for customers who intend to install grid-connected solar systems in the licensee’s area of supply on a non-discriminatory and first come, first serve basis.

Please find the link to the Official Document released by The Government of Assam – https://aeda.assam.gov.in/frontimpotentdata/grid-connected-spv-power-plant