Net Metering – Jharkhand

In compliance to JSERC (rooftop solar PV) regulations 2015 notified by Gazette 20^th January, 2016 for increasing solar power generation to harness vast solar potential in the State, JBVNL is pleased to formulate instructions on Net metering for Grid interactive rooftop solar photo voltaic power plants. The salient features of the policy are detailed below:-

All the consumers of the JBVNL who intend to setup rooftop solar PV plants in their premises shall be eligible to do so with project capacity ranging from minimum 1 kWp upto 1MWp (AC side). Third party owned solar PV plant system where developers or intermediaries or turnkey installers who lease rooftop systems to individual owners and the owners in turn, pay them monthly lease rental shall also be eligible. In case of third party on solar PV Plant the arrangement i.e. signing of and agreement for lease of rooftop system between Rooftop owner and developer or intermediary or turnkey installer will be personal to them. For all intent and purposes, JBVNL will deal with the consumer only, in case of Net-metering.

The maximum peak capacity of the grid connected rooftop solar PV system to be installed by any eligible consumer shall not exceed 100% of the sanctioned load / contract demand of the consumer and shall be more than one kilo watt peak minimum.

The capacity to be allowed in the area fed from the distribution transformer or any other transformer from which power is fed to the eligible consumer shall not exceed 15% of the rated capacity of such transformer(s).

Procedure/salient features of Net Metering – Jharkhand

The eligible consumer or third party owner hereinafter referred to as applicant who intends to install grid interactive rooftop solar PV system in his/her premises shall apply in the application form at Annexure- I along with the application fees as specified in Annexure-II. Consumers shall submit the application to the concerned Electric Supply Sub-Division along with a copy to JREDA officer in the district.
AEE of the concerned Sub-Division will prepare the feasibility report in the form of Annexure-III, with approval from the competent authority as per table –I. After checking the feasibility the concerned AEE shall issue approval letter to the feasibility cleared applicant within 30 days of receipt of application. (Annexure-IV, letter of approval).

TABLE – I

Connected Load/Contract Demand of Eligible Consumer	Connectivity Level	Competent Authority to check the feasibility
Upto 5 kW	Single Phase at 230 V	AEE/Supply
5 kW and above up to 50 kW/ 67 HP	3 Phase, 4 Wire at 415 V	EEE/Supply
Above 50 kW and up to 1 MW	3 Phase at 6.6 kV or 11 kV	ESE/Supply

AEE of concerned sub-divn shall issue approval letter to the feasibility cleared applicant within 30 days of receipt of application (Annexure – IV).
The consumer shall set up the plant and submit the work completion report along with Single Line Diagram of the synchronizing and protection arrangement issued by the plant supplier/EPC contractor within 180 days envisaging that the plant has been installed as per the approved standards and specifications as per Annexure-VII. In case of delay, the consumer shall have to get further extension from JBVNL within original (180 days) allowed period. Such extension shall be granted for a maximum period of 2-months only and the approval granted shall lapse automatically if the project is not set-up even in the extended 2- months period and the fee deposited by the consumer shall be forfeited. Such consumer shall have to apply afresh.
Competent authority to approve the single line diagram, protection arrangements and site verification of the solar plant to be set up by the consumer shall be as per the table – I.
After approval of Rooftop Solar PV System by the competent authority as above , the applicant shall apply for registration of the scheme for rooftop solar PV system by completing the registration form provided at Annexure-V of this circular, along with the registration fees as specified in Annexure-II of this circular.

JBVNL shall install and seal the Bi-directional or unidirectional or both energy meter(s) as required (as per ESIM Clause 53) within 10 days of the submission of work completion report and shall be treated as commissioned for commercial operations from that date for net-metering.

For the applicant who has applied under the net metering scheme the inter connection agreement provided at Annexure-VI of this circular shall be executed by the JBVNL within thirty (30) days of issue of Registration number to the eligible applicant.

Metering

All the meters shall adhere to the standards and provisions specified in CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters), Regulations, 2006 and subsequent amendments thereof.

The appropriate meter(s) shall be single phase or three phase as per requirement. All the meters to be installed shall be of the same or better Accuracy Class Index than the existing meter installed at the premises.

The appropriate meter(s) at the premises of the consumer shall be procured, installed and maintained by the JBVNL at the cost of the eligible consumer. However if the eligible consumer wishes to procure the appropriate Meter(s), he may procure such meter(s) and present the same to the JBVNL for testing and installation.

The location of appropriate meter(s) shall be in accordance with the CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters), Regulations, 2006 as amendments from time to time and the JSERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulations, 2005 as amendments from time to time.

The installation of check meters shall be mandatory for rooftop solar PV system having rated capacity more than 50 kWp. The charges for testing, installation and maintenance of the check meter shall be borne by the eligible consumer. The JBVNL shall own the check meter.

For installations having rated capacity up to 50 kWp, the eligible consumer or the JBVNL who so ever if desires, may install check meter at their own cost. The JBVNL shall own the check meter.

The check meter shall be installed after the inverter of the solar rooftop system.

The specification and standards of the check meter shall be same as or better than the consumer meter installed at the premises of the eligible consumer.

All the meters installed shall be jointly inspected and sealed on behalf of both the parties.

Provided that the meter reading taken by the JBVNL shall be the basis of commercial settlement .

Energy Accounting and Settlement for Net Metering – Jharkhand

Meter readings shall be taken as per the applicable cycle as provided in the JSERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulations 2005 and subsequent amendments thereof;

The energy accounting and settlement procedure for consumers installing and operating rooftop solar PV system under net metering arrangement shall be as per the following procedure:

For each billing period, the Licensee shall show the quantum of electricity injected by the rooftop solar PV system in the billing period, supplied electricity by JBVNL in the billing period, net billed electricity for payment by the consumer for that billing period and net carried over electricity to the next billing period separately;

ii. If the electricity injected exceeds the electricity consumed during the billing period, such excess injected electricity shall be carried forward to next billing period as electricity credit and may be utilized to net electricity injected or consumed in future billing periods but within the settlement period;

iii. If the electricity supplied by the JBVNL during any billing period exceeds the electricity generated by the eligible consumer’s rooftop solar PV system, the JBVNL shall raise invoice for the net electricity consumption after taking into account any electricity credit balance remaining from previous billing periods;

Provided, in case the eligible customer is under the ambit of time of day tariff, as determined by the Commission from time to time, the electricity consumption in any time block (e.g., peak hours, off-peak hours, etc.) shall be first compensated with the electricity generation in the same time block. Any excess generation over consumption in any time block in a billing cycle shall be carried forward to the corresponding time block in the subsequent month for adjustment purpose.

iv. Provided also that the excess electricity measured in kilo-watt hour may only be utilized to offset the consumption measured in kilo-watt hour and may not be utilized to compensate any other fee and charges imposed by the JBVNL as per the instructions of Commission.

v. Provided also at the end of each settlement period, any electricity credits, which remain unadjusted, shall be paid at a rate of Rs 0.50/kWh by the JBVNL or as notified by the Commission from time to time.

vi. Provide further that at the beginning of each settlement period, cumulative carried over electricity credits shall be reset to zero.

vii. When an eligible consumer leaves the system, that consumers unused electricity credits shall be paid at a rate of Rs 0.50/kWh by the JBVNL or as notified by the Commission from time to time.

viii. Regardless of availability of electricity credits with the eligible consumer during any billing period, the consumer shall continue to pay applicable charges such as fixed/ demand charges, Government levy etc.

viv. The JBVNL shall necessarily provide the following details along with the electricity bill relating to each billing period:

a) Quantum of electricity generated from the rooftop solar PV system.

b) Quantum of electricity injected into the distribution system by the rooftop solar PV system.

c) Quantum of electricity supplied by the JBVNL to the eligible consumer.

d) Quantum of net electricity that has been billed for payment by the eligible consumer.

e) Quantum of electricity credits available to the eligible consumer which is carried over from the previous billing period.

f) Quantum of electricity injected into the distribution system in excess of the drawl by the eligible consumer (quantum of electricity credits) which shall be carried forward to the next billing period.

In case of any dispute in billing it would be settled by the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and if issue still remains unresolved, it shall be settled by the Ombudsman following appropriate procedure.

APPLICABILITY OF OTHER CHARGES of Net Metering – Jharkhand

In rooftop solar PV system under net metering scheme, whether self-owned or third party owned and installed on eligible consumer premises shall be exempted from wheeling and cross subsidy surcharge.

All charges on net electricity consumed in case of Net metering from JBVNL shall be leviable as usual. All the instructions rules and regulations applicable to the consumers of the JBVNL for the applicable class/category including but not limited to the tariff rates, payment schedule, late payment surcharge, connected load / contracted demand, load surcharge, peak load restrictions, security Consumption Deposit etc., shall also be applicable to the Roof Top Solar plant owner as a consumer of JBVNL.

This has got the approval of competent authority.

APPLICATION FEES of Net Metering – Jharkhand

Sl. No.	Connected Load / Contract Demand of Eligible Consumer	Amount
1.	Up to 50 kW / 63 kVA	Rs. 250
2.	Above 50 kW and up to 1 MW	Rs. 750

The amount of application fee for eligible consumer and third party other than the owner of the premises shall be the amount mentioned above.

REGISTRATION FEES

Sl. No.	Connected Load / Contract Demand of Eligible Consumer	Amount
1.	Up to 50 kW / 63 kVA	Rs. 1000
2.	Above 50 kW and up to 1 MW	Rs. 2500

The amount of registration fee for eligible consumer and third party other than the owner of the premises shall be the amount mentioned above.

Net Metering Arrangement

1. Eligibility of Net Metering – Jharkhand

1.1. Eligibility for net-metering has been specified in the JSERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System Gross / Net Metering) Regulations, 2015 (hereinafter referred to as RSPV Regulations, 2015). Eligible consumer is required to be aware, in advance, of the standards and conditions his system has to meet for being integrated into grid/distribution system.

2. Technical and Interconnection Requirements for Net Metering – Jharkhand

2.1. The eligible consumer agrees that his Rooftop Solar PV generation plant and net metering system will conform to the standards and requirements specified in these regulations and in the following Regulations and codes as amended from time to time.

i. Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standards for connectivity of the Distributed Generating Resources) Regulations, 2013 and subsequent amendments thereof;

ii. Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulation 2006 and subsequent amendments thereof;

iii. Central Electricity Authority (Measures of Safety and Electricity Supply) Regulations, 2010 and subsequent amendments thereof;

iv. JSERC State Grid Code, 2008 and subsequent amendments thereof to the extent specified in the JSERC RSPV Regulations 2015;

v. JSERC Supply Code Regulations 2005 and subsequent amendments thereof;

vi. Any other provisions applicable to the electricity consumer of the Distribution Licensee.

2.2. Eligible consumer agrees that he has installed or will install, prior to connection of Photovoltaic system to Licensee’s distribution system, an isolation device (both automatic and inbuilt within inverter and external manual relays) and agrees for the Licensee to have access to and operation of this, if required and for repair & maintenance of the distribution system.

2.3. Eligible consumer agrees that in case of a power outage on Licensee’s system, photovoltaic system will disconnect/isolate automatically and his plant will not inject power into Licensee’s distribution system.

2.4. All the equipment connected to distribution system shall be compliant with relevant International (IEEE/IEC) or Indian standards (BIS) and installations of electrical equipment must comply with Central Electricity Authority (Measures of Safety and Electricity Supply) Regulations, 2010.

2.5. Eligible consumer agrees that Licensee will specify the interface/interconnection point and metering point.

2.6. Eligible consumer and Licensee agree to comply with the relevant CEA and JSERC Regulations in respect of operation and maintenance of the plant, drawing and diagrams, site responsibility schedule, harmonics, synchronization, voltage, frequency, flicker etc.

2.7. Due to Licensee’s obligation to maintain a safe and reliable distribution system, eligible consumer agrees that if it is determined by the Licensee that eligible consumer’s photovoltaic system either causes damage to and/or produces adverse effects affecting other consumers or Licensee’s assets, eligible consumer will have to disconnect photovoltaic system immediately from the distribution system upon direction from the Licensee and correct the problem at his own expense prior to a reconnection.

3. Clearances and Approvals for Net Metering – Jharkhand

3.1. The eligible consumer agrees to obtain all the necessary approvals and clearances (environmental and grid connection related) before connecting the photovoltaic system to the distribution system.

4. Access and Disconnection of Net Metering – Jharkhand

4.1. Licensee shall have access to metering equipment and disconnecting means of the solar photovoltaic system, both automatic and manual, at all times.

4.2. In emergency or outage situation, where there is no access to the disconnecting means, both automatic and manual, such as a switch or breaker, Licensee may disconnect service to the premises of the eligible consumer.

5. Liabilities

5.1. Eligible consumer and Licensee will indemnify each other for damages or adverse effects from either party’s negligence or intentional misconduct in the connection and operation of photovoltaic system or Licensee’s distribution system.

5.2. Licensee and eligible consumer will not be liable to each other for any loss of profits or revenues, business interruption losses, loss of contract or loss of goodwill, or for indirect, consequential, incidental or special damages, including, but not limited to, punitive or exemplary damages, whether any of the said liability, loss or damages arise in contract, or otherwise.

5.3. Licensee shall not be liable for delivery or realization by eligible consumer for any fiscal or other incentive provided by the Central/State Government beyond the scope specified by the Commission in its relevant Order

5.4. The Licensee may consider the quantum of electricity generation from the Rooftop Solar PV system towards RPO.

6. Commercial Settlement

6.1. All the commercial settlement under this agreement shall follow the RSPV Regulations, 2015 issued by the JSERC.

7. Connection Costs of Net Metering – Jharkhand

7.1. The eligible consumer shall bear all costs related to setting up of photovoltaic system including metering and interconnection costs. The eligible consumer agrees to pay the actual cost of modifications and upgrades to the service line required to connect photovoltaic system to the grid in case it is required.

8. Termination of Net Metering – Jharkhand

8.1. The eligible consumer can terminate agreement at any time by providing Licensee with 90 days prior notice.

8.2. Licensee has the right to terminate Agreement on 30 days prior written notice, if eligible consumer commits breach of any of the term of this Agreement and does not remedy the breach within 30 days of receiving written notice from Licensee of the breach.

8.3. Eligible consumer shall upon termination of this Agreement, disconnect the photovoltaic system from Licensee’s distribution system in a timely manner and to Licensee’s satisfaction.