Latest news with #KeralaStateElectricityRegulatoryCommission
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
KSERC sets useful life and registration process for renewable energy projects
T'puram: The draft regulations on renewable energy published by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission set the useful life of standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 12 years. BESS is considered a major option for storing renewable energy, especially solar energy, which is otherwise unavailable during night hours when electricity consumption is at its peak. KSEB plans to set up BESS with assistance from Centre. The regulations set the useful life of biogas-based power projects and biomass gasifier-based power projects at 25 years. The life of solar PV power projects, including floating solar projects and solar thermal power projects, is also 25 years. The useful life of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) based power projects is 20 years. For hydroelectric plants, the useful lifetime is 40 years. For wind, biomass and non-fossil fuel-based cogeneration projects, the useful life is set at 25 years. As per the draft regulations, eligible consumers shall, within 45 days of receipt of technical feasibility or deemed feasibility, apply online to the distribution licensee concerned for registration of their scheme for installing the renewable energy generating system. The licensee is expected to verify the documents within three working days. If any changes are recommended, the applicant is supposed to carry them out within seven working days.
The Hindu
6 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
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Revised procedures issued for metering and billing of electric vehicle charging stations equipped with solar power units
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has revised the procedures for the metering and billing of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations equipped with solar plants, which include a suggestion that the stations may install battery energy storage systems (BESS). As per the revised procedures, new time zone-based billing is to be implemented for the charging stations. Net meters of adequate capacity should be installed to record the import and export of energy during solar hours and non-solar hours at the earliest. The revised procedures have been issued on the basis of a clarification issued by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission for the metering and billing of EV charging stations equipped with solar power units. Installing BESS The revised procedures also suggest that solar power-equipped EV charging stations explore the possibility of installing BESS. Such EV charging stations 'may have the option of installing BESS so that they can store the surplus solar energy available during daytime for the use of non-solar hours, without availing grid power from the distribution licencee,' the KSEB said. With the large-scale integration of solar power in the Kerala power system, the KSEB has listed energy storage systems as one of the solutions for managing the surplus energy generated during 'solar hours.' With the increase in e-vehicles on the roads, the State government is also offering financial assistance for setting up DC (direct current) fast charging stations in private establishments, hotels, malls and hospitals. As part of a general tariff revision in December 2024, the commission had revised the tariffs applicable to public EV charging stations (without solar power plants). The KSEB's revised procedures are based on an April 28, 2025, clarification issued by the commission for stations with solar PV (photovoltaic) plants.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Lower rates for daytime charging in KSEB's EV charging stations
New rates have come into effect for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations operated by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The time-of-day (ToD) arrangement is specifically designed to promote EV charging during daytime (solar hours) when solar power is available. The general energy charge approved by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission is ₹7.15 per unit, but a 30% discount is on offer for charging during solar hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) For non-solar hours (4 p.m. to 9 a.m.), the rate is 30% higher. Under this, the energy charge for solar hours is ₹5 and for non-solar hours, ₹9.30. Customers must also pay duty, service charge and 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST). For AC-type chargers, the rate for solar hours is ₹8.50 per unit plus 18% GST. (The ₹8.50 consists of energy charge, duty and service charge). For non-solar hours, the rate is ₹14.23 plus 18% GST. For DC-type, chargers, the rate for solar hours is fexed at ₹16.5 plus 18% GST. For non-solar hours, the rate is ₹23.23 plus 18% GST. The rates, finalised on the basis of the December 5, 2024, electricity tariff orders of the Commission and the directions of the Union Power Ministry, came into effect at 9 a.m. last Friday (May 16), the KSEB said. The new rates are aimed at promoting green mobility by encouraging EV charging during solar hours as renewable energy sources are not available at night.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Prosumers not exempted from payment of fixed charge, says Electricity Regulatory Commission
Prosumers are not exempted from the payment of fixed charges to the distribution licencee based on their connected load, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has said. The commission's stand on the issue came in a reply to an appeal filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In the case of a prosumer, even though part or full energy requirement is met from solar plant, the 'power requirement' during non-solar hours is fully met by the licensee, in this case, the Kerala State Electricity Board. Therefore, grid-connected solar prosumers are also bound to pay the fixed charge/demand charge based on their connected load/ contract demand, the Commission noted in a reply given to Asokakumar K., of TKS Puram, Kodungallur. This condition is applicable even if their net consumption (net drawal from the grid) is zero or even when the prosumer injects surplus energy to the grid. Prosumers are consumers who also produce energy, mostly from solar plants, and supply the surplus to the grid. 'None of the orders of this Commission has exempted the prosumers from the payment of fixed charge based on their 'connected load/ contract demand' with the licensee,' the Commission said. A consumer's electric power requirement is assessed based on his connected load/contract demand of the appliances or machinery connected to the system. Even if the consumer has zero consumption during a month, the consumer is bound pay fixed charge based on the connected load/contract demand.
