Latest news with #UPERC
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
RENEWABLE POWER OBLIGATION: Regulator reprimands UPNEDA for data laxity
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has strongly reprimanded the state's designated nodal agency, UPNEDA (Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency), for gross non-compliance and delays in furnishing Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) data. The power regulator has warned that the agency's laxity could invite penalties for defaulting power entities and undermine clean energy goals. RPO is a regulatory mandate requiring large electricity consumers to purchase a fixed share of their power from renewable sources like solar, wind, or biomass. It is aimed at cutting carbon emissions and promoting clean energy in the state. However, most entities are not meeting this obligation or the date on their meeting the obligation is not available. In a suo motu order last week, the commission expressed dissatisfaction with UPNEDA's handling of its responsibilities under the UPERC (Promotion of Green Energy through Renewable Purchase Obligation) Regulations, 2010. 'Despite repeated directions, the agency has failed to ensure timely and complete reporting from obligated entities—distribution licensees and large power consumers required to purchase a portion of their electricity from renewable sources,' it noted. According to the order, UPNEDA has so far submitted compliance data for only 378 out of 509 obligated entities, that too only from 2019-20 onwards. This is despite the Commission's earlier directive that data from 2010-11 onwards must be submitted, in line with statutory provisions. 'The compliances by UPNEDA have been really pathetic,' the order reads, underscoring that UPNEDA is still struggling to provide even the annual compliance data for all obligated entities, while the regulations mandate quarterly and yearly reporting The commission also criticised UPNEDA's inability to enforce compliance, revealing that nearly 35%-40% of the obligated entities are either non-compliant or only partially compliant. In such cases, UPNEDA should have filed petitions and ensured that show cause notices were issued for deferment or purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), it said. The commission reminded UPNEDA that its role as the State Nodal Agency is crucial for driving renewable energy adoption. The agency was supposed to monitor compliance and generate timely reports—functions that have been severely compromised due to data gaps and administrative inertia. During the hearing, UPNEDA's director Inderjit Singh appeared in person and informed the commission that data collection for the remaining entities was underway. However, the commission found the progress unsatisfactory and directed UPNEDA to submit a comprehensive compliance report covering all obligated entities from 2010-11 onward within a month. In a move aimed at modernising the compliance process, the commission advised UPNEDA to launch an online portal to collect yearly, quarterly, and estimated RE requirement data. It also instructed the agency to update its website with information on registration and accreditation of renewable energy generators. The commission has fixed July 8, 2025, as the next date of hearing. However, the personal appearance of the UPNEDA director has been dispensed with till further orders.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UPERC's draft regulations set new rules for captive, renewable plants
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has released the draft UPERC (Captive and Renewable Generating Plants) Regulations, 2024, outlining key provisions to promote renewable energy generation and streamline captive power policies in line with the Electricity Act, 2003. The draft regulation, which will replace the existing 2019 regulations, includes several significant changes, particularly in areas of energy banking, tariff determination and fuel pricing. The draft available on the Commission's website proposes differentiated banking provisions for renewable energy (RE) and non-RE captive plants, aligning them with the Green Energy Open Access Rules of the Ministry of Power. Captive plants are power plants set up by a company (like sugar mills) to meet its own energy requirements before selling the surplus to an external source. Banking charges have been proposed to be set at 8% for wind, solar and hybrid RE projects and 12% for other captive generating plants, payable at the time of withdrawal. Non-RE captive plants will no longer have banking facilities, with a one-year transition window provided for adaptation. For RE plants, 100% banking of energy is allowed in 15-minute time blocks, with conditions for peak and off-peak withdrawals. Banking in the context of electricity refers to the practice of storing surplus power generated by a power plant (especially renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and bagasse) with the grid and withdrawing it later when needed. For instance, a solar power plant generates more power during the daytime than its own consumption needs. The excess power is fed into the grid, effectively 'banked'. Later, when the plant's generation is low (e.g. at night or during cloudy weather), it can withdraw the banked power. The 2019 regulations provided uniform banking provisions for all RE sources, with no distinction based on the type of RE source. Commission has also standardised the pricing of bagasse (a byproduct of sugarcane used as fuel) based on its energy equivalence to coal. For FY 2024-25, they have set its price at ₹1,729 per tonne, with a provision to increase it by 3% annually. The Commission has separately determined tariff for rice-husk based RE generation. Bagasse is used as fuel in the boiler. However, various other fuels such as biomass, firewood, coal, briquettes, rice husk etc can also be used in boiler as a substitute of bagasse. For new RE projects, the regulation provides an option for pilot projects to opt for the Average Power Purchase Cost (APPC) of the distribution licensee as the tariff or approach the Commission for tariff determination. Moreover, power procurement by distribution licensees from all RE and captive plants established after April 1, 2024, will be conducted through competitive bidding, except for government-owned generating companies. Stakeholders have been invited to submit their feedback on the draft regulations before the by May 30.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
UPPCL likely to propose power tariff hike soon
The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) is expected to propose a tariff increase in the state by the month-end as the electricity regulator has accepted its annual revenue requirement (ARR) proposal, setting the revenue need for the current fiscal at ₹1.16 lakh crore. In U.P, there has been no direct increase in the electricity tariff for the last five consecutive years. 'The UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) on Friday accepted our ARR filed on November 30. Now, we will file the tariff increase hike proposal separately for 2025-26 after May 20,' a senior UPPCL official said. The UPERC, in its order passed by chairman Arvind Kumar and member Sanjay Singh, has directed the UPPCL/discoms to publish, in three working days, the ARR, financial performance and revenue gap through a public notice in newspapers. The commission has indicated that it would start holding public hearings on the ARR as well as the tariff hike proposal that the UPPCL may submit later in the days to come. UPERC, according to people in the know of things, may announce the new tariff for the current financial year by the end of July after knowing stakeholders' views through the public hearings and on tariff adjustments to address the UPPCL's projected revenue deficit. UPPCL, in its ARR, outlines a revenue need of approximately Rs1.16 lakh crore, with an estimated power purchase cost between ₹92,000 crore and ₹95,000 crore during 2025-26. The corporation has projected a deficit of ₹13,000 crore, leaving it to the commission to decide on potential tariff hikes. UPERC can make tariff adjustments on its own also to help the UPPCL bridge the expected revenue deficit.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UP govt policies boost solar sector's prospects
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Energy Expo-2025 witnessed the participation of over 2,500 visitors on its second day, as attendees explored contemporary solar solutions and environmentally friendly technologies. During a panel discussion on Creating a Competitive Environment for Solar Manufacturers, UPERC chairman Arvind Kumar drew attention to Uttar Pradesh's rising energy requirements and the resulting opportunities for solar manufacturers. He highlighted the state's effective industrial policies, which attracted investments worth Rs 6 lakh crore in the previous year. Senior project officer of UPNEDA, Rakesh Kumar Agarwal emphasised the achievements of the PM-KUSUM scheme , with particular focus on UP's pioneering KUSUM portal. Agricultural energy synergies in Uttar Pradesh were another focal point during a session that examined the integration of solar panels with agriculture. Manish Khare addressed land leasing policies, while Prasoon Anand proposed the idea of pilot projects. Participants noted the scheme's potential to boost both farmer incomes and sustainability. The transport session focused on the demand for large charging stations. Abhimanyu Wali sought govt assistance to set up 1,000 MW of fast-charging infrastructure along highways, aiming to reduce charging time from 8–10 hours to just 15–20 minutes. Regional director of the UP State Chapter of PHDCCI, Atul Srivastava, said: "UPEX 2025 is an initiative that brings perspectives, technology, and implementation together on a single platform," adding that for a dynamic state like Uttar Pradesh, the path to sustainable energy lies in collaboration and capacity building at every level — from grassroots entrepreneurs to global investors.
