Virtual and Group Net Metering Allowed in Rajasthan !!

In a major regulatory milestone, the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has notified the 3rd Amendment to the Grid Interactive Distributed Renewable Energy Generating Systems Regulations, 2025, paving the way for Virtual Net Metering (VNM) and Group Net Metering (GNM) in Rajasthan.

This amendment marks a turning point in how consumers — residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial — can generate, share, and consume solar power.

⚡ What are Virtual and Group Net Metering?

Virtual Net Metering (VNM) allows consumers to install a solar or renewable energy system at one location and share the generated energy across multiple electricity connections within the same DISCOM area.

For example, a housing society, educational group, or government department with several buildings can install one large system and distribute the benefits among all their connections.

Group Net Metering (GNM), on the other hand, enables a single consumer with multiple connections (say, different buildings or facilities) to offset energy consumption across those connections using power from one solar installation.

Both mechanisms are game-changers for consumers who previously couldn’t install rooftop solar due to space, shading, or ownership issues.

⚙️ Key Highlights of the Amendment

1️⃣ Wider Options for Consumers

The amendment officially recognizes Net Metering, Net Billing, Group Net Metering, and Virtual Net Metering as permissible arrangements. DISCOMs must offer these options on a non-discriminatory and first-come-first-serve basis.

2️⃣ Simplified and Faster Approvals

• Technical feasibility to be completed within 15 to 30 days, or deemed approved if delayed.

• Domestic systems up to 10 kW require no feasibility study — automatic acceptance!

• Connectivity must be provided within 30 days after technical clearance.

  
  

3️⃣ Flexibility in Ownership

Systems under VNM or GNM can be:

• Self-owned by consumers,

• Installed through RESCO models, or

• Developed by Utility-led aggregators.

Even landowners can lease their space for such installations without DISCOM involvement in the commercial arrangement.

4️⃣ Capacity and Eligibility

• Maximum system capacity: Up to 100% of cumulative sanctioned load, capped at 1 MW.

• Consumers with 100 kW to 1 MW load can choose between VNM/GNM or Green Open Access.

  
  

5️⃣ Energy Accounting & Settlement

• In GNM, surplus energy from the main system is adjusted among the consumer’s other connections based on a declared priority list.

• In VNM, energy credits are shared among participating consumers as per an agreement or MoU.

• Unused credits at year-end will be purchased by the DISCOM as per prevailing rates.

• Time-of-Day (ToD) based settlements ensure fair adjustment across tariff slabs.

  
  

💰 Major Waivers and Incentives

🏠 Domestic Consumers

• 100% waiver on all charges — including transmission, wheeling, banking, and surcharges.

• No application fee, security deposit, or meter testing fee under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana till the target of 5 lakh homes is achieved.

💡 Other Consumers (Self-Owned Systems)

• Exemption from transmission, banking, and surcharge payments when installed on consumer premises.

• Minimal wheeling losses applicable if installed elsewhere.

🔋 RESCO-Owned Systems

• 50% exemption on cross-subsidy and additional surcharge (fully exempt for government connections).

• Wheeling charge concessions extended based on system type and location.

⚡ Battery Energy Storage (BESS)

• 75% wheeling charge waiver for systems with 5% storage.

• Additional 1% waiver for every 1% increase in storage capacity up to 30%.

• 100% exemption for BESS above 30% of solar capacity.

  
  

🪄 Future-Ready Features

RERC has also paved the way for:

• Plug-and-Play Solar Systems – simplified rooftop setups for quick deployment.

• Blockchain-based Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Energy Trading – enabling consumers to trade surplus energy securely and transparently.

  
  

🌿 Why This Matters

With this amendment, Rajasthan becomes one of the few states in India to legally enable Virtual and Group Net Metering, empowering:

• Apartment residents and housing societies to share solar benefits collectively.

• Government and institutional campuses to centralize solar generation.

• Businesses and industries to optimize distributed energy use across facilities.

• RESCO developers to scale innovative shared solar models.

It is a giant leap toward decentralized, inclusive, and democratic solar power — aligned with India’s vision of “One Sun, One World, One Grid.”

👏 Final Thoughts

This forward-looking regulation by RERC strengthens Rajasthan’s leadership in the renewable energy sector.By allowing Virtual and Group Net Metering, offering charge waivers, and enabling battery integration, the state has set a new benchmark for clean energy adoption in India.

Rajasthan is not just producing solar power — it’s now sharing it smarter. ☀️⚡