Tamil Nadu unveils green energy open access rules to boost renewable power for industries

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has chalked out green energy open access regulations to increase the renewable power quotient in the grid and make more green power available to smaller industries. This will help the commission meet its renewable energy purchase obligations.The TNERC (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2025, yet to be published in the Tamil Nadu Gazette, incorporate the provisions of the Union power ministry's Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022.It offers guidelines for setting up solar, wind, and other renewable power plants in the state, as well as for industries that would buy power from them. The regulations cover eligibility, charges, banking, metering, and procedures for green energy open access.Any industry with a connected load of 50kW is eligible to purchase green power from third-party generators in the state and other states. This is subject to the payment of transmission charges, wheeling charges, cross-subsidy surcharge, additional surcharge, banking charges, standby charges, and reactive energy charges. “We allow industries to buy power from conventional sources too, under the open access category. It will apply for the green energy purchase as well,” said an official.Under the new regulations, a banking charge of 8 per cent of the tariff will be levied, provided that it is used within the same time slot and month. TNPDCL will purchase any surplus energy at the end of the month at 75 per cent of the determined tariff for green power. Existing wind projects commissioned before March 31, 2018, will continue with a 12-month banking facility at 14 per cent charges.

Renewable energy power producers in the state, however, say there is no clarity on certain clauses in the regulations. “It is not clear whether the block-wise adjustment of green power would apply only to new consumers,” said chief advisor to Renewable Energy Producers Association K Venkatachalam. “Also, the Union power ministry had exempted the levy of additional surcharge on green energy open access if fixed charges were already collected from consumers. But, TNERC’s regulations now levy an additional surcharge,” he said.