POLICY
SUPPORT FOR GRID INTERACTIVE RENEWABLE POWER
Electricity Act 2003
Section 86. (1):
The State Commission shall discharge the following functions….
(e): promote
cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of
energy by pr suitable measures for connectivity with the grid and sale
of electricity to any person, and also specify, for purchase of
electricity from such sources, a percentage of the total consumption of
electricity in the area of a distribution licensee;
National Electricity Policy 2005
The National Electricity Policy
2005 stipulates that progressively the share of electricity from
non-conventional sources would need to be increased; such purchase by
distribution companies shall be through competitive bidding process;
considering the fact that it will take some time before non-conventional
technologies compete, in terms of cost, with conventional sources, the
commission may determine an appropriate deferential in prices to promote
these technologies.
Tariff Policy 2006
The Tariff Policy announced in
January 2006 has the following provisions:
§
Pursuant to
provisions of section 86 (1) (e) of the Act, the Appropriate Commission
shall fix a minimum percentage for purchase of energy from such
sources taking into account availability of such resources in the region
and its impact on retail tariffs. Such percentages for purchase of
energy should be made applicable for the tariffs to be determined by the
SERCs latest by April 01, 2006.
§
It will take some
time before non-conventional technologies can compete with conventional
sources in terms of cost of electricity. Therefore, procurement by
distribution companies shall be done at preferential tariffs determined
by the Appropriate Commission.
§
Such procurement
by Distribution Licensees for future requirements shall be done, as far
as possible, through competitive bidding process under Section 63 of the
Act within suppliers offering energy from same type of non-conventional
sources. In the long-term, these technologies would need to compete
with other sources in terms of full costs.
§
The Central
Commission should lay down guidelines within three months for pricing
non-firm power, especially from non-conventional sources, to be followed
in cases where such procurement is not through competitive bidding.
National Rural Electrification
Policies, 2006
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Goals include provision of
access to electricity to all households by the year 2009, quality
and reliable power supply at reasonable rates, and minimum lifeline
consumption of 1 unit / household/day as a merit good by year 2012.
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For villages/habitations
where grid connectivity would not be feasible or not cost effective,
off-grid solutions based on stand-alone systems may be taken up for
supply of electricity. Where these also are not feasible and if only
alternative is to use isolated lighting technologies like solar
photovoltaic, these may be adopted. However, such remote villages
may not be designated as electrified.
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State government should,
within 6 months, prepare and notify a rural electrification plan,
which should map and detail the electrification delivery mechanism.
The plan may be linked to and integrated with district development
plans. The plan should also be intimated to the appropriate
commission.
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Gramapanchayat shall issue the first certificate at the time of the
village becoming eligible for declaration as electrified.
Subsequently, the Gram Panchayat shall certify and confirm the
electrified status of the village as on 31st March each
year.