Installation of rooftop solar units now easier & quicker – The Economic Times

The government has amended the electricity rules to exempt households from a technical feasibility study for power systems up to 10 kW capacity in a bid to encourage rooftop solar adoption.
For systems of capacity higher than 10 kW, the time frame for completing the feasibility study has been reduced to 15 days from 20 days.

The amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, also further reduced the time allowed for getting new electricity connections and simplified the process of setting up rooftop solar installations, said power and new and renewable energy minister RK Singh.

He said the amendments empower consumers living in multi-storeyed flats to choose their connection type and ensure separate billing for common areas and back-up generators in residential societies.

The changes also provide for check meters to be installed by distribution companies in case of consumer complaints, to verify electricity consumption, the government said in a statement. The key changes will facilitate easier and quicker installation of rooftop solar systems, it said.
Under the new rules, the distribution system strengthening necessary for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems up to 5 kW capacity will be done by the distribution company at its own cost.

The time frame for the distribution licensee to commission rooftop solar systems has been halved to 15 days.

Consumers can obtain separate electricity connections for charging their electric vehicles, according to the new rules. The time allowed for obtaining a new electricity connection has been reduced to three days from seven days in metropolitan areas, seven days from 15 in other municipal areas and 15 days from 30 in rural areas.

Provisions have been introduced in the rules, to enhance consumer choice and promote greater transparency in metering and billing.

Owners residing in cooperative group housing societies, multi-storeyed buildings and residential colonies will now have the option to choose either individual connections or a single-point connection for the whole premise.

In cases where consumers raise complaints about meter reading not aligning with their actual electricity consumption, the distribution licensee will have to install an additional meter within five days from the date of receipt of the complaint. This additional meter will be used to verify the consumption for a minimum period of three months, thus reassuring consumers and ensuring accuracy in billing.

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