UPERC eases compliance norms for green energy open access projects
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued a “Removal of Difficulty” order under its Open Access Regulations, introducing changes aimed at reducing costs and simplifying compliance requirements for green energy open access (GEOA) projects, particularly those involving multiple consumers through a lead aggregator model.
The order, which takes immediate effect, addresses issues related to metering requirements, application fees, and registration charges that had affected the commercial viability of group open access projects in the state.
One of the key changes relates to rationalisation of application fees payable to Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited (UPPTCL). Under the revised Schedule-A, the standard non-refundable application fee for individual applicants remains Rs 50,000. However, projects routed through a Lead GEOA Consumer will now pay Rs 5,000 per individual GEOA consumer, subject to a minimum of Rs 50,000 per application. The move replaces the earlier cumulative fee structure that had increased costs for group applications.
The Commission has also revised Schedule-B relating to registration charges payable to the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC). Under the new framework, a lead GEOA consumer will pay Rs 1,500 per individual GEOA consumer, subject to a minimum of Rs 15,000. The amendment replaces the earlier provision requiring cumulative registration payments without any cap.
UPERC has also modified Regulation 29.6 to align it with the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026. Under the revised provision, installation of a check meter for voltage levels up to 650 volts will no longer be mandatory unless specifically requested by the open access consumer. The main meter will now be treated as sufficient for accounting purposes, reducing capital expenditure for smaller consumers.
The Commission said the order is intended to function as an implementation-enabling framework rather than a major regulatory overhaul. The amendments are aimed at making multi-consumer GEOA arrangements, including group captive and virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) models, more operationally and financially viable.
Industry stakeholders have highlighted that the clarification on cumulative fee structures and the removal of mandatory check metering are likely to lower entry barriers for aggregated green power procurement models.
The order was issued under Regulation 38 of the UPERC Open Access Regulations, 2019, which empowers the Commission to remove implementation difficulties, provided such measures remain consistent with the Electricity Act, 2003.
According to the Commission, the amendments follow stakeholder representations regarding ambiguity in metering provisions and the financial burden arising from cumulative fee requirements for group open access applications.
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