GERC Fixes Additional Surcharge Payable by Open Access Consumers at Rs. 0.76/kWh

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has fixed the additional surcharge payable by open access consumers for the period of 1st April, 2023 to 30th September, 2023 at Rs. 0.76/kWh. This will be applicable to the consumers of four-state owned DISCOMs, namely Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL), who avail power through Open Access from any source other than their respective DISCOM.

The additional surcharge was derived basis the energy supplied to general body of consumers out of scheduled energy towards meeting the requirement of consumers, T &D losses of 14.88%, which are lower than normative T&D losses approved by the Commission for  FY 2022-23 (14.88%) and the latest trued up T & D losses for the four State DISCOMS as a whole- FY 2020-21 (16.00%). Network related cost paid by open access consumers through demand charges, a percentage of 7.14% has also been taken into account.

While Gujarat has been leading remarkably in rooftop solar, it has been a laggard in open access. The ruling to increase the surcharge does little to better this situation.

It is being held that once the Electricity (Amendment) Rules 2023 comes into force, additonal surcharge on renewable power sourced through open access may not be levied.