Latest news with #T.K.Jose
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Prosumers, vendors slam draft renewable energy regulations
Organisations representing prosumers and vendors slammed the proposals in the draft renewable energy regulations at a hearing on Tuesday (July 8, 2025), describing them as regressive and harmful to Kerala's planned shift to renewable energy solutions. The criticisms were aired on the first day of a four-day online public hearing on the draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters), 2025, kicked off by the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) headed by T.K. Jose. Postpone by 5 to 10 years Proposals to restrict the Net Metering System (NMS) to 3 kW, imposition of grid support charge of ₹1 per unit exported to the grid, and designation of 'peak hours' from 6 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. drew sharp criticism from the stakeholders. It was also suggested that the proposed regulations, in general, should be kept in abeyance for five or ten years as the State's renewable energy sector was not yet ready for them. Participants pointed out that drastic revisions in the regulations would discourage future investments in the sector. The regulations should entail a win-win situation for all, rather than imposing one-sided solutions, according to them. Demands were also raised that existing projects should continue to be governed by the old regulatory framework as the investments were made on the basis of tariffs and regulations prevalent at the time. Unilateral revisions would tend to render these projects unprofitable, they said. Affordability factor A large number of the participants demanded the commission to retain the existing net metering system, terming the proposed mechanism unfair. The Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs and Promoters Association (KREEPA) also urged the Commission to freeze clauses that force prosumers to go for costly battery storage systems at this juncture. Echoing the demand, the Renewable Energy Consortium (RECC) pointed out that while the concept of storage is good, it may take another five years or so for good quality battery systems to become affordable. The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) termed the proposed grid support charge exorbitant. The airport, which has made commendable strides in solar power generation, said it has put on hold a 6.5 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in view of the current uncertainties. The Kerala State Small Industries Association (Ernakulam district chapter) urged the Commission to put off plans to introduce the new billing and settlement mechanisms proposed under the new regulations from October 1. Peak hours Stakeholders also questioned the rationale of designating peak hours from 6 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. in the draft when the tariff orders issued by the Commission in December 2024 had already fixed it as 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The High Tension/Extra High-Tension Industrial Electricity Consumers Association said the peak hours as defined in the tariff orders should be retained. The Ministry Approved Solar Traders (MASTERS) opined that the draft regulations, if implemented as it is, would break the backbone of the renewable energy industry in Kerala. They demanded that the proposed revision of the regulations be put on hold for at least five years. The remaining three hearings will be held on July 10, 11 and July 16. The new regulations, which will be valid for five years from 2025-26, are meant to replace the 2020 regulations which expired in 2024-25.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Draft regulations on renewable energy: Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission to kick off online hearings from Tuesday
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) will open a series of hearings from Tuesday (July 8) on its draft regulations on renewable energy, amid strong objections raised by organisations representing traders and solar prosumers to the content. The hearings, planned in online mode, will be held on July 8, 10, 11, and July 16. The Commission has postponed the hearing planned on July 9 to 16 on account of the general strike called by trade unions. While the online hearings are meant for registered participants, stakeholders and members of the public can file their opinions, suggestions and objections in writing till 5 p.m. on July 14, the three-member Commission headed by T.K. Jose said. The draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters) Regulations, 2025, meant to replace the 2020 regulations which expired in 2024-25, 'aims to promote renewable energy in Kerala in alignment with the National and State Renewable Energy (RE) targets and Net Zero commitments,' according to the Commission. Broadly, it places thrust on promoting energy storage and seeks to lay the foundation for the integration of technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G), peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, virtual net metering and group net metering in the State's renewable energy sector. The Commission also plans to introduce the new billing and settlement mechanisms proposed under the new regulations from October 1. However, organisations representing prosumers and traders allege that the draft proposals would hamper the progress achieved by the State in renewable energy. The modifications suggested to the billing system, especially restricting net metering to 3 kW (5 kW with battery), has drawn flak from them. The Commission had published the draft regulations on its website on May 30 for stakeholder feedback. Prior to this, it had also pepared a detailed discussion paper on the status and propsects of the renewable energy sector in the State. However, protests against the draft have mounted over the past weeks. On July 3, organisations representing traders and solar prosumers staged a massive protest outside the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission office here, terming the contents of the draft impractical and damaging to the sector. Traders in the sector also observed a 'Solar Bandh' on the day by keeping firms involved in the manufacture, sale, installation and service of RE components shut. The Commission is also planning to live-stream the hearings on YouTube.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Draft regulations on renewable energy: traders, prosumers protest in front of State Electricity Regulatory Commission office
Organisations representing traders and solar prosumers in the State's renewable energy (RE) sector staged a protest in front of the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) office here on Thursday calling the commission's draft regulations on renewable energy impractical and damaging for the sector. The protest was organised by the Ministry Approved Solar Traders (MASTERS) with support from organisations such as the Kerala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs and Promoters Association and Renewable Energy Companies Consortium. Traders in the sector also observed a 'Solar Bandh' on Thursday by keeping firms involved in the manufacture, sale, installation and service of the RE components shut as part of the protest. 'Denying fair hearing' Interestingly, the protest came just days ahead of the hearings planned by the commission from July 8 to July 11 on the Draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters), 2025. The protesters alleged that the commission is also denying the public a fair hearing by confining its hearings to online mode. The protesters wanted the commission to hold physical hearings in all the Assembly constituencies, ensure the support of the national-level solar policy for schemes such as PM Surya Ghar and retain the existing conditions for Net Metering System (NMS). If the draft policy is implemented in its present condition, the number of people opting for rooftop solar systems would fall drastically, according to MASTERS. It would also adversely impact the livelihood of lakhs of people engaged in the manufacture, sales, installation and service of the RE components, the organisation alleged. Conveyed apprehensions A delegation from the protesting organisations also met the commission chairperson T.K. Jose and conveyed their apprehensions. Meanwhile, the commission has said that the online hearings would be held in three sessions on each of the four days. More than 500 people would be heard in each of the sessions. The hearings were planned online to ensure higher public participation, according to the commission. The registration for the hearings is open till 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala State Electricity Board directed to refinance ‘high-cost loan' taken from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has directed the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to refinance a loan totalling ₹2,091.68 crore availed from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) on the grounds that the interest rate was on the higher side. The directive is part of the Commission's June 30 order on the truing-up of KSEB accounts for the 2023-24 fiscal. The KSEB had availed the loan for implementing the TransGrid 2.0 project aimed at strengthening the power transmission network within Kerala. The amount includes ₹1680.81 crore as principal amount and ₹410.87 crore as interest. The Commission headed by T.K. Jose observed that KIIFB had sanctioned the loan to the KSEB at an interest rate of 9.52%. 'This is very much on the higher side,' the Commission said. The Commission noted with concern that the average interest rate of loans availed by the KSEB from other financial institutions was 8.50%. 'The higher interest rate would create an additional liability of about ₹ 2,1.33 crore annually for the State-run power utility, it said. The Commission has asked the KSEB to report the progress on the refinancing within three months to it. According to the Commission's order, the interest on the KIIFB loans was the highest among long-term loans availed from the financial institutions, including REC Ltd (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation) and the Power Finance Corporation (PFC). 'Hence, KSEBL should have accessed and analysed the interest rate and other terms and conditions before availing such high cost loans. As the incumbent licencee, every effort of KSEBL should aims at providing quality electricity at affordable cost to its consumers,' the Commission said. It further observed that the KSEB had consistently taken all efforts for swapping high-cost loans with loans at cheaper rates from financial institutions, so as to pass on the benefits of the reduction in interest to electricity consumers. Moreover, Regulation 29(6) of the Tariff Regulations 2021 also mandates the refinancing of high-cost loans so as to reduce the interest cost, it said. APPC hiked The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved ₹3.26 per unit as the average pooled power purchase cost (APPC) for settling the net surplus energy banked by prosumers as on March 31, 2024. The rate has been hiked from ₹3.15 per unit during the previous settlement period.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Draft regulations on renewable energy: Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission to hold online hearings in July
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) will hold public hearings in July in online mode on the Draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters), 2025. The virtual hearings will be held on four days from July 8 to July 11. The commission headed by T.K. Jose said the draft published on its website on May 30 had already drawn comments from stakeholders. A majority of the respondents wanted the Net Metering System (NMS) to be continued for existing prosumers. The commission observed that the draft regulations contained a provision that existing prosumers billed under the NMS would continue to be billed under it. While the decision to go online with the hearings has drawn criticism from a section, the commission justified it saying that the online mode would guarantee greater stakeholder participation from across the State. Register online The commission has asked stakeholders who wish to attend the hearings to register online on The window for registration will be open till 5 p.m. on July 4. The details are available on the commission's website The new regulations are meant to replace the KSERC (Renewable Energy and Net Metering) Regulations, 2020, whose term expired in 2024-25. The draft, according to the commission, seeks to incorporate emerging trends in renewable energy, 'aligning with the broader objectives of fostering renewable energy development, ensuring grid stability, and promoting sustainable energy practices.' It places emphasis on energy storage systems, and seeks to classify prosumers under different methods of billing and settlement. The draft also introduces concepts such as Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) integration in Kerala's rapidly growing renewable energy sector.
