: The state government does not seem to have a coherent policy on solar rooftop systems. On one hand, MSEDCL wants to discourage them by proposing to levy a surcharge and going in for gross metering instead of net and on the other, its sister concern (MEDA) has decided to provide for them in 2018-19 too. MEDA has sent a circular to consultants informing them that residential and educational institutional consumers will continue to get subsidy of 30 per cent of benchmark price from central government. This price is the minimum one for solar panels as determined by central government. Consultant Ajit Ganguly said only difference between the circulars of this year and last year were the benchmark prices. “Last year, the benchmark price for A category — having sanctioned load between 1kW and 10kW — was Rs61,000 per KW. This year, it has been reduced to Rs47,000. This is fair as prices of solar panels have crashed in past few months. The prices of solar panels in other categories too have been reduced,” he added. As per the latest circular, consumers will get a subsidy of Rs14,100 per kW for loads between 1kW and 10kW (category A). The figure is Rs13,350 per kW for loads between 10kW and 100kW and Rs13,200 for loads between 100kW and 500 KW. Those having sanctioned load above 500kW will not get any subsidy. Ganguly said that MSEDCL’s proposal to levy surcharge and replacing gross metering by net was discouraging consumers. “If (MERC) agrees to these proposals then solar rooftop will no longer remain viable. The existing consumers are in a state of panic while prospective ones have put their plans on hold,” he said. Another consultant Sudhir Budhe said that MSEDCL was proposing the changes out of commercial considerations and was not taking reduction in carbon footprints into account. “People have opposed these proposals tooth and nail in all the public hearings held by the Commission,” he added. MSEDCL managing director Sanjeev Kumar refused to comment on his proposals saying that they could not be discussed over telephone. Energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule could not be contacted.
Authorities in the Indian state of Maharashtra have caused confusion in their approach to rooftop solar power after state energy distribution company, MSEDCL, proposed a levy on new installations and the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) said it was extending a 30% subsidy offered to residential and educational consumers. Consultants in the sector have warned that the proposed levy from MSEDCL will make rooftop solar unviable.