Manufacturers in Maharashtra oppose MERC draft rules for solar energy

PUNE: The Maharashtra Solar Manufacturers Association (MASMA) has claimed that Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (MERC) recently released draft regulations for renewable energy, if implemented, would destroy the solar industry in the state.

“The draft regulations will not just hit the solar industry, but will also burn a hole in consumers’ pockets,” MASMA president Pradeep Kulkarni said. Members of the association will hold a conference on November 9 and 10 to discuss the issue.

MASMA committee member Sameer Gandhi said the draft would prevent citizens the access to renewable and cheaper energy. “Maharashtra had a target capacity of producing 4,200 MV of solar electricity between 2015 and 2022. We only have a capacity of 165 MV in 2019,” he said.

The members said the draft regulation proposes doing away with net metering. “In 2016, net metering was adopted for households and establishments with rooftop solar units. A household could sold the excess solar power produced to MSEDCL. But the draft is against this practice,” Gandhi said.

Source: Economic Times