Maharashtra currently provides direct employment to approximately 1,00,000 skilled and semi-skilled youngsters... Read More

AURANGABAD: An umbrella organization of over 1,000 solar system manufacturers from Maharashtra has sought the help of Centre in relaxing proposed draft regulations of the Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC).

Maharashtra Solar Sanghthan, the apex body of such manufactures, on Thursday, met Union Power Minister R K Singh in Delhi to raise its apprehensions about the regulations mooted in the solar power sector in Maharashtra.

Vipul Joisher, a member of the delegation of solar system manufacturers, said that it was brought to the notice of the Centre that the MERC has been pushing its own agenda in the name of Forum Of Regulators (FOR), an apex body of regulators of electricity in India.

“During our meeting with the union power minister, we highlighted discrepancies observed in draft of MERC regulations when compared with the recommendations given by FOR. The minister said that he would demand an explanation from MERC through FOR,” Joisher said.

In a memorandum submitted to the union minister, solar system manufacturers have highlighted their objection to the compulsory gross metering across the state, among other issues.

“We believe that certain MERC draft regulations are completely against the spirit of The Indian Electricity Act, 2003, which allows all citizens to generate power for self-use. Due to this compulsory unconstitutional arrangement, the consumer is not only required to pay higher tariff, but also has to pay electricity duty, tax on the sale, wheeling charges, cross sbsidy surcharge, and an additional surcharge on the electricity produced and consumed by him/her,” Maharashtra Solar Sanghthan said.

Stating that Maharashtra currently provides direct employment to approximately 1,00,000 skilled and semi-skilled youngsters in the field of solar power generation, the organization has alleged that the draft regulations has the potential to kill such employment opportunities in one stroke.

The Sanghatan said that the rooftop solar system manufactures are small and scattered and so are the consumers who install such systems. Therefore, it has sought intervention from the power ministry to protect the industry concerned from “vicious attacks” by the state power utilities among others.

Among other proposed MERC regulations, clause for penalty if the installation of the solar power is done without prior intimation to the state power utility has also drawn objection. The draft regulations to this effect reads, “In case the consumer installs the renewable energy generating systems behind the consumer’s meter without prior intimation to the respective distribution licensee, then the total additional liabilities in terms of additional fixed charges or demand charges and any other charges for such systems, shall be levied at twice at the determined rate for such period of default.”

