Latest news with #GERC
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
KPI Green Energy to develop 150 MW wind power projects in Gujarat
KPI Green Energy Ltd , the solar and hybrid energy arm of the KP Group, has secured a Letter of Intent (LoI) from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) to develop 150 megawatts (MW) of wind power projects in Gujarat . The LoI was awarded following KPI Green Energy 's successful participation in a competitive bidding process initiated by GUVNL, specifically under its 'Wind Phase IX' tender. The company emerged as a successful bidder in a reverse e-auction held on April 22, 2025. While the LoI is a crucial step, the formal Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with GUVNL will be executed only after obtaining the necessary approvals from the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). GERC is the state regulatory body responsible for overseeing the electricity sector in Gujarat, including the approval of power purchase agreements to safeguard consumer interests and ensure a stable energy supply. The company aims to scale its overall renewable energy capacity to 10 GW by 2030, and this 150 MW wind power project represents a key step towards achieving that ambitious target.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
32,000 MSMEs get backdated electricity shock
Surat: In a development affecting more than 32,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in South Gujarat, businesses were hit with additional electricity charges for the past 12 months. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Industry sources say these charges will total Rs 60 crore and will affect textile units running operations such as weaving, rapier jacquard, embroidery and other industries that use low-tension maximum demand (LTMD) connections. The additional fees stem from peak hour charges, calculated at 0.45 paisa per unit above regular rates. According to DGVCL officials, the average supplementary bill amount is Rs 18,750, to be recovered from 32,000 users. Sources in industry said many users received supplementary bills for more than Rs 40,000. The delay in billing arose because Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL) did not previously calculate peak hour charges, as the mechanism to collect time data on electricity consumption was not in place. DGVCL started installing new meters and upgrading its IT infrastructure to address this gap. The designated peak hours, according to DGVCL, are from 7am to 11am and 6am to 10pm. Textile units, which typically operate round the clock, are particularly affected, receiving substantial bills for peak hour usage. Conversely, units that do not operate during these hours have to pay less. DGVCL officials said they are complying with directives from the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC), which mandated the collection of these charges starting June 2024. "We could not collect the peak hour charges earlier as the system was not in place. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The meter configuration and IT system upgrade took time," said a DGVCL senior official. Following appeals by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) to cabinet minister for energy Kanu Desai, the govt has allowed businesses to pay these charges in instalments without interest. "The minister tried to find a solution, but due to the GERC order, it cannot be reversed. Textile units are the most affected as we operate 24 hours," said Ashok Jirawala, vice-president of SGCCI. "The govt heard us positively and offered solutions, but the issue would not have been created if DGVCL had taken prompt action a year ago. The produced material has already been sold according to the cost calculated then, and in many cases, tenants have vacated rented units, so how does one recover the additional electricity charges," said Mayur Golvala, secretary, Sachin Industrial Co-Op Soc. "There must be a consistent policy related to industries so that we can focus on production and global competition. If we are affected by such unpredictable developments, it becomes difficult to operate," said Chetan Maniya, president of Rapier Jacquard Weavers Association. The rationale behind the peak hour tariff is to incentivise electricity use during periods of higher solar power production, typically the afternoons, thereby reducing reliance on conventional power sources during peak demand.
