The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has fixed the generic levelized tariff for power generated from solar PV for FY 2018-19 at ₹4.17 (~$0.059)/kWh without accelerated depreciation (AD). With AD the tariff will be ₹3.98 (~$0.057)/kWh.

The generic levelized tariff is just ₹0.01 (~$0.00014)/kWh more than the average power purchase cost (APPC) for the state’s distribution companies (DISCOMs) during financial year 2018-19.

The commission passed the order during a proceeding to determine the generic levelized tariff of renewable energy  projects for the second year of the third control period for FY 2018-19.

The generic levelized tariff for the second year of control period FY 2018-19 from renewable energy (RE) sources will be applicable for the projects commissioned from the date of issue of the order until March 31, 2019, or until the next order.

The tariff will be valid for 25 years from the commercial operation date (COD).

According to the order, the tariff of solar PV will decrease by 3.3 paise (~$0.0004)/kWh for every 1 percent of capital subsidy obtained from the central or Bihar government.

According to Mercom India Large-scale Solar Project Tracker, Bihar has installed just 110 MW of large-scale solar projects cumulatively and does not have an active pipeline of projects.

States continue to set generic tariff for solar thermal even though there no projects being developed using this technology.

In March 2018, Mercom reported that BERC fixed ₹4.16 (~$0.064)/kWh as the average power purchase cost (APPC) for the state’s distribution companies (DISCOMs) during financial year 2018-19. The APPC does not include intra-state transmission costs. If the intra-state transmission costs were added, the APPC would rise to ₹4.45 (~$0.068)/kWh. The APPC will apply to the two DISCOMs in the state, North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL).

The average cost of supply for both DISCOMS during FY 2018-19 was found to be ₹7.35 (~$0.11)/kWh. BERC fixed ₹7.38 (~$0.112)/kWh as the average billing rate for DISCOMs during FY 2018-19.

Previously, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued a set of levelized generic tariffs for the purchase of electricity from a host of renewable power generation sources during FY 2018-19.

In April 2018, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) fixed the levelized generic tariff for solar procurement in the state for financial year 2018-19 at ₹3.11 (~$0.0478)/kWh without accelerated depreciation.

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer