DERC Issues Draft Amendment to Green Energy Open Access Regulations 2024
- The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), the body responsible for regulating electricity tariffs and standards in the Indian capital, has issued a draft amendment to its Green Energy...
- The primary objective of the draft amendment is to remove the previous requirement that consumers must be connected at a voltage level of 11 kV or above to...
- Under the proposed changes, eligibility for green energy open access will instead be determined by a load threshold.
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), the body responsible for regulating electricity tariffs and standards in the Indian capital, has issued a draft amendment to its Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2024. The proposal seeks to expand the eligibility criteria for consumers wishing to access green energy through open access.
The primary objective of the draft amendment is to remove the previous requirement that consumers must be connected at a voltage level of 11 kV or above to qualify for green energy open access. By eliminating this voltage-related condition, the DERC aims to make renewable energy procurement accessible to a broader range of consumers.
New Eligibility Thresholds
Under the proposed changes, eligibility for green energy open access will instead be determined by a load threshold. The draft amendment specifies that consumers with a sanctioned load or contracted demand of at least 100 kW will qualify.
The commission has outlined specific conditions for how this load threshold is calculated. Eligibility extends to consumers who meet the 100 kW requirement through either a single connection or multiple connections. In the case of multiple connections, these must aggregate to 100 kW or more and be located within the area of supply of the same distribution licensee.
Regulatory Adjustments
The draft amendment involves specific deletions from the existing 2024 regulatory framework to ensure consistency across the rules. The voltage-related condition is being removed from several key areas, including:
- The definitions of
entity
andgreen energy open access consumer
. - Regulation 8 (a), which specifically details the eligibility criteria for consumers.
These changes are detailed in the Explanatory Memorandum for the Draft Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026.
Stakeholder Consultation
The DERC has opened the proposal for public comment to gather input from stakeholders before the amendment is finalized. Interested parties and stakeholders have until May 5, 2026, to submit their feedback on the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria.