Peer-to-peer electricity trading to be piloted under India Energy Stack

The government is preparing a pilot framework for peer-to-peer electricity trading under the India Energy Stack, as reported by ET EnergyWorld.

Under the proposed model, electricity exchanges would take place between verified participants, while billing and financial settlement would continue to be routed through distribution companies. From a regulatory perspective, discoms remain central to grid operations, settlement and accounting, even as bilateral transactions are facilitated through digital platforms. Wheeling and transmission charges are expected to be applied in line with regulatory approvals and reflected in consumer bills.

The pilot is expected to be rolled out initially through select discoms, with participation limited to consumers equipped with smart meters and eligible generation assets such as rooftop solar systems. Platform access is expected to be provided through applications developed by trading service providers, with onboarding and operational oversight handled by the respective discoms.

The scalability of the model will depend on regulatory clarity around settlement mechanisms, consumer protection, data governance and dispute resolution. Wider adoption will also hinge on alignment across state regulators and discoms, particularly on the treatment of charges and grid accountability.

The proposed framework signals a move towards platform-enabled electricity transactions in India’s retail power segment, though its impact will depend on how regulatory oversight and system responsibilities evolve as pilots progress.

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