The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has directed all power distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the state to implement monthly energy settlement and billing for solar rooftop prosumers with immediate effect.

The Commission has also directed DISCOMs to ensure that payments for excess energy exported to the grid are made through electronic transfer, in line with existing regulations.

APERC warned that any failure to comply with these directions would be viewed seriously.

Background

The Commission noted that under Clauses 16.1 and 16.5 of the APERC Grid Interactive Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic System Regulation, 2023, energy settlement and billing for rooftop prosumers is mandated on a monthly basis, with compensation for surplus energy exported to the grid.

However, during public hearings on the Retail Supply Tariff (RST) filings for FY 2026–27 and subsequent years, APERC received complaints from consumers alleging that DISCOMs were not conducting monthly energy settlements and were failing to pay prosumers for excess power supplied to the grid.

The Commission observed that these practices amounted to non-compliance with its notified regulations.

Commission’s Analysis

After examining the complaints and applicable regulatory provisions, APERC concluded that the DISCOMs’ actions violated the regulations.

The Commission therefore directed all DISCOMs to forthwith implement monthly energy settlement and billing for all rooftop prosumers covered under Regulation 4 of 2023 and to ensure that payments for surplus energy are made only through electronic transfer to the concerned consumers.

The regulator clarified that aggrieved consumers should approach the respective DISCOMs for grievance redressal and cautioned that non-compliance with the directions would attract action.

In August last year, APERC proposed introducing virtual net metering, allowing groups of consumers, such as housing societies and residential complexes, to export solar power to the grid through a gross meter. The exported energy will be allocated among members in proportion to their ownership share. Net imports from the grid will be billed at the applicable retail tariff, while surplus exports will be compensated at the feed-in tariff fixed by the Commission.

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