Gujarat Mulls Ending Separate Connectivity Agreement for Surya Ghar Projects
GERC proposes that connectivity should be deemed from the project’s commissioning date
October 15, 2025
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The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has proposed removing the requirement for a separate written connectivity agreement between the distribution licensee (DISCOM) and the consumer for rooftop solar systems installed under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
Instead, the agreement would automatically come into force on the project’s commissioning date, with DISCOMs required to issue consumers a receipt-backed acknowledgment stating the agreement start date and the applicable surplus power purchase rate.
Four state-owned DISCOMs had filed a petition seeking a waiver of the interconnection agreement for rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar program. They argued that, since consumers make no commitments and DISCOMs must follow state commission regulations, dropping the agreement will speed up the program’s implementation and help meet targets.
The draft proposal also aligns rooftop interconnection levels directly with the GERC Electricity Supply Code. Under the current rooftop solar regulations, connectivity levels are fixed with single phase at 240 V for systems up to 6 kW, three phase at 415 V for systems above 6 kW up to 100 kW/kVA, and high-tension (HT) for capacities beyond 100 kW/kVA.
However, an earlier amendment to the GERC Electricity Supply Code allows low-tension (LT) connectivity up to 100 kW/kVA by default and up to 150 kW/kVA if the applicant opts for it, based on contracted demand.
This created a mismatch as rooftop projects between 100 and 150 kW/kVA could opt for LT under the Supply Code, but were still pushed to HT under the rooftop solar regulation.
Stakeholders can submit their objections and suggestions by October 27, 2025.
The move follows a recent Ministry of Power advisory urging all states and union territories to eliminate standalone net-metering contracts for residential rooftop consumers and instead use a digital agreement embedded in the online application. Citing sub-rule 10 of rule 4 of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, the ministry said any required agreement between a DISCOM and a consumer should form part of the application itself.
The ministry also advised utilities to waive application, registration, net-meter testing, and commissioning fees for rooftop solar installations, tapping the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s incentives instead of charging consumers. It noted that 17 states and union territories have already waived these charges.
The Surya Ghar program aims to install rooftop solar systems on 10 million households for a total capacity of 30 GW by 2027. Approximately two million rooftop solar systems have been installed under the Surya Ghar program so far. Approximately half of the households received zero bills, and many also earned money by selling excess electricity.
India added 1,618 MW of rooftop solar capacity in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, according to Mercom India’s Q2 2025 India Rooftop Solar Market Report. The installations grew 121% year-over-year (YoY). Capacity additions were led by the residential segment, which contributed over 74% of the total.