Eligible Entities 

Many customers from Andhra Pradesh have questions regarding net metering and its processes. In this article, we will be discussing the Net Metering – Andhra Pradesh . According to the Electricity Act-2003, as amended from time to time, all registered businesses, government agencies, partnership businesses, individuals, and all AP Discom(s) customers are eligible to set up solar rooftop projects (SRP) for the sale of electricity to discoms, captive use, or for self-consumption through net metering

For the purpose of building up Solar Rooftop Projects (SRP) with SPV Technology for the sale of power to Discom, captive usage, or for self-consumption, groups of people or societies will also be eligible.

SRP must be linked to the distribution network at the LT level if their installed capacity is less than or equal to 56 kW. SRPs with installed capacities of 56 kW or more and up to 1000 kW must be linked to the distribution network at the 11 kV or 33 kV level. However, APERC may occasionally change the installed capacity of SRP for connectivity to distribution networks.

Requirements for Net Metering – Andhra Pradesh

(1 )For the installation of a 1 KWp system, a minimum unoccupied roof area of 10 square meters (or 100 square feet) is needed.

(2) The consumer must be connected to a 3 Phase/ 1 Phase supply service.

(3) Required safety measures and features must be fitted in accordance with regulations.

(4) For export and import, a single bidirectional meter must be placed.

(5) Only standard equipment that complies with MNRE/APTRANSCO/DISCOM standards may be installed.

General Information about Net Metering – Andhra Pradesh

1. For the selling of power to Discom, Eligible Developers are free to use either net or gross metering. The applicable price in either of the two situations must be equivalent to the discom’s annual average cost of service (ACOS), which will be established by APERC.
2.  Eligible Developers may also mount Solar Photovoltaic Plants (SPV) on the exteriors of their structures.
3.  Eligible Developers must submit their applications to the Discom solely online, either through their websites or with the assistance of approved mee seva/customer service centers.
4.  A developer who qualifies may establish an SPV plant with a higher capacity than the contracted load; nevertheless, the maximum permitted capacity for single-phase service is 3 kWp, and the maximum allowable SPV plant capacity for LT category is 56 kWp.
5. Developers that qualify may take use of the appropriate subsidies and incentives offered by MNRE and other departments as needed.
6. The channel partners of MNRE, GOI or NREDCAP (the nodal agency) may process the eligible subsidy. According to the rules set forth from time to time by MNRE, the subsidy will be approved and released.
7. An SRP connected at the LT level of a distribution network with a capacity of up to 10 kW is not necessary to receive prior approval from the Chief Electrical Inspectorate General (CEIG).
8. Incentives, other fees, and administrative costs won’t be levied on eligible developers, groups, societies, or individuals by DISCOMs.

All additional fees must follow the current version of the Tariff Order.

According to the Policy, the Eligible Developer must pay the Nodal agency the registration and facilitation fees.

9. For Long Term Consumers who choose the Solar Net Metering Scheme, insurance coverage may be optional. To reduce risks in the event of accidents, consumers and solar power developers might be encouraged to purchase insurance coverage.
10. Except in the case of signing the agreement, the Solar rooftop developers and MNRE channel partners may be permitted to attend departmental proceedings on behalf of the applicant.
11.  It is possible to use the net metering facility for pre-existing rooftop solar PV projects, whether or not they have battery support. According to the published solar net metering policy/guidelines, they will not receive any subsidies.

Application 

Eligible Developer must submit an application to Discom for the establishment of an SRP along with the required data/documents about system size, interconnection voltage, choice of gross or net metering option, personal information, etc. The application cost must be paid either online or in cash by the eligible developers, societies, or groups. The CEA/MNRE criteria must be rigorously followed by the Eligible Developer.

Technical Feasibility 

DISCOM employees will conduct the technical feasibility study using the application that the Eligible Developer submitted. An internal evaluation to see if the proposed SRP complies with the requirements set forth by the CEA must be done, particularly with regard to inverter specs, penetration levels, safety elements like anti-islanding and protective devices, etc. Within seven (7) working days of the application’s submission, this research must be completed. Without a response from the DISCOM during this time frame, it will be assumed that approval has been given.

Customers will receive feasibility approval from DISCOM in order of arrival. The table lists the maximum penetration limitations at the LT level of the distribution network.

For LT services, DISCOM/ADE will be in charge of the feasibility study, while DE (M & P) & DE (Operations) would be in charge of HT services. ADE/Operation will approve the feasibility and synchronization of LT services, and the Superintending Engineer/Operation will approve the feasibility and synchronization of HT services.

Installation of the SRP and Agreement

The Discom and the Eligible Developer must sign an agreement outlining the technical details, business arrangements, and distinct duties and responsibilities of all parties involved, as outlined in Annexure-C (C1 for Individual Consumers and C2 for Societies/Groups of Consumers). If the Consumer of Discom does not enter the Agreement within 15 days after receiving the Technical Feasibility, the application is presumed to be canceled.

After the date of the Agreement, the SRP must be installed within three (3) months. Any delay that lasts more than three months will receive a single 15-day extension, after which the agreement will be judged to have expired for no apparent reason.

​​PV system commissioning and pre-commissioning inspection

The Eligible Developer must submit a (online) request for inspection following the implementation of the SRP. Within 10 working days and provide approval based on checklist mentioned in Annexure- A., DISCOM officials must inspect the system. If no answer is received within the allotted period, the inspection will be declared approved.

Metering and Synchronization: 

For export and import, a single bi-directional meter must be placed. If the SRP capacity is greater than 10 KWp, a check metre will be given.

According to the requirements set forth by the CEA, CERC/APERC regulations, as occasionally updated, all meters must be smart meters. If applicable, AP Discoms must offer net metering (net meter together with associated CTs and PTs) on a cost-based basis. Meters, Current Transformers (CT), and Potential Transformers (PT) may be purchased by Eligible Developers on the open market or through DISCOM. If the developer buys the metering equipment, it must be tested at a standard laboratory at the sole expense of the consumer. 

After the inspection is approved, the eligible developer must submit a request to the discom for metering infrastructure by paying the required money by online mode, Mee seva, or customer service centers. The metering infrastructure must be delivered by DISCOM staff within 7 working days, and the eligible developer is in charge of keeping it secure while waiting for grid synchronization.

After an inspection is approved and the metering cost is paid, the SRP must be synchronized within seven (7) working days. The DISCOM staff must check, calibrate, and seal the meter(s) when the SRP is synchronized with the grid and make sure all safety features and precautions are installed. The DISCOM/CEIG would issue a commissioning certificate contingent upon the test findings, which should adhere to the Regulatory requirements/Standards.

Meter reading must follow the current Discom protocol. The appropriate customer fees must be paid to Discom.

A special service number must be given to each eligible developer for metering and billing purposes. All eligible developers must submit their bank information so that APDISCOMs can electronically transfer money to their accounts. Along with the application form, the eligible developer must provide a voided check with the bank account number and IFSC code.

The concerned ERO will get the agreement and test reports of the SRP from the DISCOM official (ADE/AE). After syncing the SRP, the billing procedure must begin within one month or the following billing cycle. When using HT services, the ADE/DE operation will give the Senior Accounts Officer of the relevant circle the Test Report.

Energy Settlement and Billing/Invoicing: 

Monthly energy settlement is required. The establishment of SRPs by a group of people or societies shall be regarded as collective generation for the purpose of supplying electricity to the homes of each society or group member. Apartments and group homes may utilise a similar meter for net metering. When registering the application, the Developer or Consumer must select Net Metering or Gross Metering.

Net metering:

Every month, the eligible developer or consumer must offset the energy produced from SRP against the amount of energy they consume from the DISCOM. If a group or society generates energy, the installed capacity share specified in the agreement between the group or society and DISCOM will be prorated according to the energy generated. Every month, this computed energy share must be updated to account for each consumer’s energy consumption.

• In the event that there is excess generation (after energy adjustment) injected into the DISCOM network during a billing month, the excess will be carried over to the following month until the end of each quarter, and settlement will be based on the Average Cost of Supply (ACoS) for net metering, as determined from time to time by APERC.
• In the event of excessive use in any month, the Eligible Developer/Group/Society shall pay for the net energy at the applicable pricing as established by APERC annually.

Gross metering:

 In the case of gross metering, the SPV generator shall pay the concerned DISCOM for the energy used during a billing month in accordance with the retail supply tariff that has been determined by the regulatory commission. Payment for energy supplied to the DISCOM by the Developer or Consumer will be made on a monthly basis based on the ACoS as determined by APERC from time to time. (Net sum to be credited)

All Eligible Developers will have an energy cap that must be met before APDISCOM will start paying them. Please see the Annexure-E sample.

Inspection: 

a) DISCOM staff members reserve the right to routinely inspect the SRP at any time during the Agreement’s term. The following elements must be examined by DISCOM authorities as part of the inspection.

• All of the SPV system’s protection equipment is operating as intended.
• The SPV system, including the panels, inverters, etc., continues to comply with Indian and IEC standards after installation until the end of the contract.

b) An Eligible Developer who is caught stealing electricity or using it without authorization must pay any additional fees that the DISCOM may impose in accordance with the requirements of the Electricity Act 2003. DISCOM has the authority to impose additional fees in addition to cutting off the electricity.

Annexure-A

I. The seller should provide a comprehensive installation service for the entire circuitry, including the panels, inverter, solar generation metre, cabling, manual switch, safety circuit breaker, etc. APDISCOM may also offer the metering infrastructure.

II. The SPV system must include the following mandatory safety measures or precautions:

a. Certified inverter-controlled relays that can trip in the case of a grid failure and obstruct the grid from receiving any solar electricity. The consumer must occasionally be sure of the same.

b. The solar circuit needs to be isolated and earthed.

c. Additional switchgear or a relay is needed as a second level of safety (sensing phase-angle shift). It must be put in between the bidirectional metre and the hookup point.

d. The inverter’s harmonics suppression/filtering feature, which is necessary for both accurate energy measurement and the safety of the local network.

e. The SRP developer will be responsible for installing an additional manual relay or switch on the pole side.

III. Hybrid Islanding is permitted, whereby the consumer can use solar generation from rooftop SPV, even when the grid is not available. If the consumer desires, he may do so by installing appropriate protection systems before synchronization. The same has to be tested & permitted by DISCOM official(s) before synchronization.

 IV. A single bi-directional meter shall be installed for export and import. This bidirectional meter should be a smart meter with the following characteristics:

 a. Separate registers for Export and Import with MRI downloading facility.

 b. kVAr, kWh, kVA measuring registers for Capacity above 1 KW. 

c. AMI facility with RS232 (or higher) communication port.

 d. Class 1 accuracy meters for PV systems up to 10 kWp, 0.5 accuracy class meters for PV systems above 10 kWp and 0.2 class accuracy meters for HT systems (50 kWp and above). 

e. Meters should be BIS/ISI Certified. 

f. CT functionality meters to be provided for PV systems above 15 kWp

V. MNRE’s channel partner should be the vendor implementing the complete solution.

VI. If non-IEC/ISI/BIS certified equipment is discovered during an inspection, either at the time that authorization to install a net metering solution was granted or at any subsequent periodic inspection, the vendor or consumer will be blacklisted, and MNRE will be made aware of the situation.

VII. In the event that solar generation exceeds 10 KW, a check meter with import/export, MRI compatibility, trivector meter with the ability to record 3-Line currents, 3-Phase voltage, V-THD & I-THD in load curve must be provided.

Connectivity Request

The Eligible Consumer shall provide related connecting equipment in accordance with the technical requirements, including safety and performance standards, of the DISCOM and shall get the appropriate recognition.

The eligible consumer must install an isolator switch that is available to company staff at all times in order to prevent a net metering from back-feeding a de-energized line.

Before starting a parallel operation of the net metering facility, the customer must first get permission from the DISCOM’s competent authority.

Before being made, additions or adjustments to a Generator must be approved by the DISCOM. Prior to altering the generating facility, the Eligible Consumer must give the DISCOM written notice explaining the alterations or adjustments in full. Within forty-five (45) calendar days of receiving the customer’s proposal, the DISCOM must examine the adjustments to the generating plant and inform the eligible consumer of the findings.

Any components that might preclude parallel operation because they violate the relevant safety requirements and/or power generation restrictions must be explained along with  a description of the modifications necessary to remedy the violations.

Measuring and Synchronization:

 In accordance with the criteria outlined by the CEA regulations as periodically revised, all meters must be smart meters. Meters, Current Transformers (CT), and Potential Transformers (PT) may be purchased by Eligible Developers on the open market or through DISCOM. If the developer buys the metering equipment, it must be tested at a reputable lab at the expense of the consumer.

Meter reading must follow the current Discom protocol. The appropriate customer fees must be paid to Discom.

After synchronizing the SRP plant, the billing procedure must begin within one month or the following billing cycle.

Energy Settlement and Billing/Invoicing: 

Monthly energy settlement is required. The establishment of SRPs by a group of people or societies shall be regarded as collective generation for the purpose of supplying electricity to the homes of each society or group member. Apartments and group homes may utilise a similar metre for net metering.

Net metering: Every month, the eligible developer or consumer must offset the energy produced from SRP against the amount of energy they consume from the DISCOM. If a group or society generates energy, the installed capacity share specified in the agreement between the group or society and DISCOM will be prorated according to the energy generated. Every month, this computed energy share must be updated to account for each consumer’s energy consumption.

• The Discom shall pay for any net energy computed at the Average Cost to Serve (ACS), as established by APERC every year, in the event of excess generation (after energy adjustment) in any month.
• In the event of excessive use in any given month, the Eligible Developer/Group/Society shall pay for the net energy at the applicable rate as established by APERC annually.

Gross Metering: The Average Cost to Serve (ACS) of the Discom, as established by APERC each year, will be used to calculate the payment for energy produced by SRP. This will be subtracted from the total monthly billing demand for energy use by the Eligible Developer/consumer from the DISCOM. The Discom is responsible for determining the remaining balance for the month after adjustment.

All Eligible Developers will have an energy cap that must be met before APDISCOM will start paying them. Please see the Annexure-E sample.

Please find the link to the Official Document released by The Government of Andhra Pradesh – https://www.apspdcl.in/solar/Solar_Rooftop_Net_metering_Policy_2015.pdf