RERC finalises green energy open access procedure in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has issued an order finalising the Procedure for the Grant of Green Energy Open Access in the state. The order is dated December 12, 2025, and follows a public consultation process and a hearing held on November 14, 2025.

The procedure operationalises the RERC Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access Regulations, 2025, which were notified in May 2025. It lays down a detailed framework for consumers and generators to procure and transmit renewable energy through the state transmission and distribution network.

The Commission examined submissions from 21 stakeholders, including industrial consumers, renewable energy developers, and industry associations, as listed in the annexures to the order. Based on these inputs, RERC introduced several clarifications and modifications in the final procedure.

Consumers with a contract demand or sanctioned load of 100 kW or more are eligible to apply for green energy open access. Entities holding multiple connections within the same distribution division can submit a single consolidated application if the combined load meets the 100 kW threshold, subject to a defined fee structure.

For new renewable energy projects with capacity above 5 MW, installation of an Energy Storage System is mandatory. In the case of captive projects sized between 100 percent and 200 percent of contract demand, an additional Battery Energy Storage System is required for 20 percent of the energy generated from capacity beyond 100 percent of contract demand, calculated using normative Capacity Utilisation Factor or Plant Load Factor values.

The procedure confirms a dual banking mechanism. Projects up to 100 percent of contract demand are eligible for annual banking. For capacity between 100 percent and 200 percent of contract demand, banking is allowed on a billing cycle basis, subject to a cap of 30 percent of monthly consumption from the distribution licensee.

RERC has introduced flexibility in connectivity for new projects. Conditional open access may be granted based on feasibility approval for connectivity, with physical connection required at least 30 days before commencement of power flow.

To address approval timelines, the Commission has provided for a deemed No Objection Certificate. If a distribution licensee does not issue a No Objection Certificate within seven days of a request, approval will be treated as granted. Short term open access applications are classified into advance applications with a seven day notice period and exigency applications with a notice period of up to three days.

Security deposits equivalent to three months of applicable charges are required from applicants. The Commission has directed that interest be paid on cash security deposits at the prevailing bank rate, in line with its earlier orders. Registration under the procedure cannot be cancelled without issuance of a show cause notice. For captive users, security deposit calculations exclude Cross Subsidy Surcharge and Additional Surcharge, subject to submission of a statutory undertaking.

To support grid stability, consumers are required to maintain a uniform power drawal schedule for 12 consecutive time blocks, equivalent to three hours, in accordance with central government rules.

The order allows existing open access consumers to continue under their current agreements until expiry. A one time option has been provided to migrate to the new green energy open access framework for the remaining period of existing agreements. For applications involving additional capacity, the applicable treatment depends on whether the combined capacity exceeds the existing contract demand.

The final procedure has been approved by the Commission comprising Chairman Dr. Rajesh Sharma and Member Shri Hemant Kumar Jain. The procedure is enclosed as Annexure III to the order. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (RVPNL), the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), and the distribution licensees are directed to publish the procedure on their websites within seven days. The procedure takes effect immediately.

The featured photograph is for representation only.