Rooftop Solar: MNRE Lauds OERC Order, Asks Other SERCs To Implement M2M SIM-Based RMS

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in its latest notification, welcomed the recent amendment order issued by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) regarding data tracking from solar inverters. MNRE said the order was aligned with the ministry’s earlier notification mandating the use of M2M SIMs for real-time tracking of solar generation from rooftop solar systems.

The ministry said the OERC order considered real-time measurement and transmission of generation data through inverter communication devices equipped with Machine-to-Machine (M2M) SIM communication protocol. It added that such decisions would help reduce the additional cost burden associated with solar meters.

“The hon’ble OERC’s amendment reflects the Commission’s proactive efforts to align its net metering regulations with technological advancements and MNRE guidelines, especially the PMSG: MBY,” the notification said.

Why SIM-Based RMS Is Needed? 

MNRE said that adoption of M2M SIM-based communication protocols for real-time monitoring and tracking of solar generation is not only necessary from a cybersecurity perspective but is also critical for grid stability and security. It said these measures could support peer-to-peer power trading and enable smoother electric vehicle-to-grid (EV-to-grid) mechanisms.

The MNRE also urged all state power regulators to incorporate the implementation of M2M SIM-based remote monitoring systems for rooftop solar connections in line with the OERC order.

The OERC, in its order dated November 27, 2025, amended its rooftop solar regulations to allow the use of hybrid inverters for rooftop solar connections and to introduce provisions for M2M SIM-based remote monitoring systems (RMS). It proposed the addition of an extra sentence under Clause 10 of its rooftop solar net metering regulations.

Real-Time Tracking 

It had said, “Inverter communication devices/dongles/data loggers having Machine-to-Machine (M2M) SIM communication protocol can also be relied upon for real-time measurement and transmission of generation data in lieu of a generation meter.”

Earlier, MNRE, in its official memorandum issued on July 21, 2025, had asked stakeholders to implement a framework to track the generation benefits of rooftop solar installations through a centralised rooftop solar data system hosted on servers located in India and managed by MNRE or any other government agency. The ministry said this was necessary to ensure monitoring and control of millions of inverters aggregating gigawatts of capacity remained with government agencies, considering grid security and stability.

It had asked all inverter communication devices under the scheme to be equipped with M2M SIM-based RMS for reliable data transmission. The ministry had also said it was in the process of finalising vendor-neutral and open communication protocol-based data communication and security norms for rooftop solar monitoring and control through the national portal. This portal was expected to be made available for integration testing of inverter communication devices from September 1, 2025.

It also said that all OEMs enlisted to supply inverters under the PM Surya Ghar scheme would be required to mandatorily connect their inverters directly to the national servers and software platforms managed by MNRE or any other agency designated by the ministry.