The Kerala Domestic Solar Prosumers Community (KDSPC), a collective of over 3,000 rooftop solar owners, has submitted a representation to the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) opposing key provisions of the draft Renewable Energy & Related Matters Regulations, 2025.

The community alleged that the draft regulations promote large-scale centralised projects while discriminating against household prosumers.

Referring to the Grid Support Charge of ₹ 1/unit, KDSPC stated that the imposition of an additional grid support charge on prosumers violates the Electricity Consumer Rights Rules, 2020, and is perceived as a disincentive for decentralised renewable generation. Restricting net metering eligibility to only systems with a capacity of up to 3 kW directly contradicts MNRE guidelines and undermines the viability of medium-sized domestic rooftop systems.

The draft treats major RE plants and small domestic plants unequally and appears designed to benefit larger players at the expense of households who have invested in rooftop systems. While the Electricity Conservation Act, 2001, and national RPO mandates favour distributed systems like RTS, the draft does not support or incentivise their role in meeting Kerala’s Renewable Purchase Obligations.

The draft is silent on installation and bearing the cost of generation meters, causing ambiguity and confusion for prosumers. Introducing tariff ceilings in Virtual Net Metering and Group Net Metering is in direct conflict with the Electricity Act of 2003, which ensures non-discriminatory and market-based access to electricity.

KDSPC warned that the current draft if finalised without revision, could cripple the decentralised renewable energy ecosystem in Kerala. The community demands that KSERC revisit the draft, correct the legal and policy deviations, and ensure fair treatment of domestic prosumers who have invested in clean energy solutions for the common good.

“A just energy transition cannot be built on penalising the very citizens who contribute to it. Kerala’s energy future lie in empowering households, not side-lining them,” said Jameskutty Thomas, KDSPC Coordinator.

Published on June 30, 2025