Latest news with #KSERC
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Draft regulations on renewable energy propose peer-to-peer energy trading
A decentralised mechanism where individual power producers or groups can directly buy and sell electricity using an online platform is among the highlights of a draft regulation on renewable energy published by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) for stakeholder feedback. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trade allows prosumers – electricity consumers who are also producers – to sell surplus energy from renewable sources such as solar power through an online P2P platform using blockchain or other approved technologies, according to the Draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters) Regulations, 2025. At present, choices before the prosumers are limited to banking the surplus energy with the distribution licencee, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) in Kerala's case. In a full-fledged P2P energy trading system, a prosumer will be able to sell the surplus electricity using the distribution and transmission networks of the licencee by paying the prescribed charges. The draft notes that the P2P energy trading platform should be operated by an authorised service provider or the distribution licencee by meeting the technical standards and safety requirements. Onboarding participants Anybody who is interested in buying renewable energy via P2P transactions has to register with the platform. The draft requires the distribution licensee to facilitate the onboarding of participants and ensure the seamless integration of P2P transactions within the grid. 'The distribution licensee shall act as the nodal agency for monitoring, regulating and facilitating P2P energy transactions within its jurisdiction,' the draft said. It is also the licencee's duty to address operational challenges arising out of P2P trading, such as making sure that the grid remains stable. Commission sources described P2P trading as akin to open access, but a more democratised version of it. Open access gives consumers the right to buy power from the supplier of their choice using existing distribution and transmission networks. This mechanism, however, has the condition that the minimum volume of power is 1 megawatt (MW).
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
KSEB seeks KSERC's nod for collecting 32 paise per unit from consumers to recover additional spending on power purchases in 2023-24
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has sought the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission's (KSERC) nod to collect 32 paise per unit from electricity consumers to make up for the additional spending on power purchases in 2023-24. According to the KSEB, it spent ₹745.86 crore on 'excess power purchase' to compensate for a significant dip in hydropower availability in 2023-24. The KSEB has placed its request under Section 88 of the KSERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff), Regulations, 2021, which deals with the 'Adjustment of the cost due to change in hydro-thermal mix.' The Commission has scheduled a hearing on the KSEB petition on May 27 at its court hall in Thiruvananthapuram. A disappointing southwest monsoon rainfall, cancellation of contracts for the supply of 465 megawatts (MW) under Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) scheme, and an 'unusual increase' in consumption had raised 'significant challenges' to the KSEB in 2023-24, the KSEB said in its petition. The power utility spent 12,982.63 crore on power purchases that year. According to the KSEB, hydro generation fell by 1,477 million units (mu) over the quantum approved by the commission in 2023-24 due to the shortage in rainfall. This shortage was made up primarily through short-term contracts and purchases from the power exchanges, resulting in changes in the 'hydro-thermal mix' (the combination of hydel and thermal power generation) for 2023-24. The energy requirement in Kerala also exceeded the approved quantum by 2,321 mu. The KSEB has used the average power purchase cost for 2023-24 (₹5.05 per unit) to arrive at ₹745.86 crore as the sum to be recovered from consumers. The combination of factors that led to supply shortages in 2023-24 had taken the total power purchase costs for the financial year to ₹12,982.63 crore.
