The Government of Delhi on March 29, 2023, issued the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission Renewable Purchase Obligation and Renewable Energy Certificate Framework Implementation) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2023 to further amend the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Renewable Purchase Obligation and Renewable Energy Certificate Framework Implementation) Regulations, 2021.
The following amendments have been stated:
• Amendment in Regulation 4:
4. RENEWABLE PURCHASE OBLIGATION (RPO)
(1) Every Obligated Entity shall purchase electricity from Renewable Energy Sources to fulfill a defined minimum percentage of the total consumption during the year, under the Renewable Purchase Obligation, as specified in the table.
Provided further that the targets specified for Obligated Entities for FY 2025-26 shall be continued beyond FY 2025-26 unless specified by the Commission separately.
(2) Wind RPO shall be met by energy produced from Wind Power Projects (WPPs) commissioned after 31st March 2022 and the wind energy consumed over and above 7% from WPPs commissioned till 31st March 2022.
(3) HPO shall be met by Energy produced from Hydro Power Projects [including Large Hydro Projects (LHPs), Pumped Storage Projects & Small Hydro Projects (SHPs)] commissioned after 8th March 2019.
(4) Other RPO shall be met by Energy produced from any Renewable Energy Power Project not mentioned in 4 (2) & 4(3) above and shall include Hydro Power Projects [including Large Hydro Projects (LHPs), Pumped Storage Projects & Small Hydro Projects (SHPs)] commissioned before 8th March 2019.
(5) Any shortfall remaining in the achievement of the 'Other RPO' category in a particular year shall be met with either the excess energy consumed from WPPs, commissioned after 31st March 2022 beyond 'Wind RPO' for that year or with excess energy consumed from eligible LHPs [including Large Hydro Projects (LHPs), Pumped Storage Projects & Small Hydro Projects (SHPs)], commissioned after 8th March 2019 beyond 'HPO' for that year or partly from both. Further, any shortfall in achievement of 'Wind RPO' in a particular year shall be met with excess energy consumed from Hydro Power Plants, which is in excess of `HPO' for that year and vice versa.
(6) Renewable Energy Certificates shall be considered as per Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Renewable Energy Certificates for Renewable Energy Generation) Regulations, 2022 as amended from time to time, for computation of further shortfall in RPO, if any
(7) Hydropower imported from outside India shall not be considered for meeting HPO. The HPO Trajectory shall be trued up on an Annual Basis depending on the Revised Commissioning schedule of Hydro projects. Further to facilitate the compliance of HPO, the Hydro Energy Certificate mechanism, as available, may be utilized by Obligated Entity.
• In Regulation 6(1), clause (f) has been inserted:
(f) Certification of Purchase of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources in excess of RPO for all eligible entities and Computation of Quantum of RPO Compliance & Excess Renewable Purchase for non-obligated and obligated entities
• Amendment in 1st proviso of Regulation 7(3) and 8(2):
Provided that the value of BG/FDR shall be the weighted average price of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) discovered at Power Exchange (IEX) for the past three (3) months.
• Amendment in 1st proviso of Regulation 9(1):
Provided that for a shortfall of units to meet the RPO target, after physical procurement of power, the Distribution Licensees may be allowed REC cost which shall be considered as per Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Renewable Energy Certificates for Renewable Energy Generation) Regulations, 2022 as amended from time to time and shall be Trued-up.
• Amendment in Regulation 12:
12. PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH RPO
(1) Non-compliance with the RPO targets by an Obligated Entity shall attract a penalty at the rate of 10% of the weighted average REC price discovered at Power Exchange (IEX) for the relevant year, for a quantum of shortfall in RPO.
Provided that the amount of penalty imposed on the Distribution Licensees due to non-compliance of the RPO targets shall be reduced from the ARR during True up of the relevant Financial Year in terms of the Regulation 124 of the DERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff) Regulations, 2017.
Provided further that the penalty to be levied on obligated Open Access consumers shall be computed for the relevant year by SNA and communicated to Distribution Licensee with a copy to Commission. The Distribution Licensee shall bill such penal amount in the electricity bill of Open Access consumers.
Provided further that the penalty to be levied on remaining obligated entities will be computed for a relevant year by SNA and the mechanism for its recovery will be dealt with by the Commission on case to case basis.
These regulations will be applicable from April 01, 2023.
[Notification No. F.3(679)/Tariff/DERC/2022-23/7460]
