Generic Tariff For Solar Projects Set at Rs 3.94-4.06/kWh in Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) has set the generic levelised tariffs for solar PV projects in the state for a period of six months between October 1, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

The generic tariffs have been set under the HPERC (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) Regulations, 2017. And, will be applicable in cases where the joint petition for the approval of a power purchase agreement (PPA) has been submitted to the HPERC on or after April 1, 2019, but not later than September 30, 2019, and also those solar PV projects that have been commissioned on or before March 31, 2021.

The Commission felt that in view of the geographical and topographical conditions in the state and in order to promote smaller capacities of solar PV plants at different locations across the state, it may be appropriate to create a separate category of solar PV projects upto 1 MW capacity. The capacity of such projects in the second category is proposed to be limited to 5 MW, as the commission expects that for higher capacities, the discoms shall preferably purchase solar power through SECI or else through the competitive bidding route.

Projects implemented by SECI and those which are installed by consumers within their premises (rooftop or ground mounted) under the net-metering program have been excluded from the list of applicable projects for the tariff order.

According to the order, solar project up to 1 MW being developed in industrial and urban areas of the state will have a set Rs 4.06/kWh generic tariff. For projects, more than 1 MW and up to 5 capacity, a tariff of Rs 4.02/kWh has been set.

For projects to be set up in areas other than industrial and urban areas, a generic tariff of Rs 3.98/kWh has been set for projects up to 1 MW. And Rs 3.94/kWh for projects more than 1 MW and up to 5 MW.

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