Assam Tightens Rules for Green-Energy Open Access Applications

Assam Tightens Rules for Green-Energy Open Access Applications

The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission has modified its 2024 Open Access rules to reshape the way consumers will get green energy access through open access. According to the revised guidelines, open access for green energy will be permissible only if applicants submit their applications through a specifically identified “lead GEOA consumer,” that is, a consumer belonging to the same electricity-division having a contracted demand or sanctioned load of at least 100 kW, even if such demand is aggregated across multiple connections. It also stipulates that the power drawn by GEOA consumers should remain constant over at least 12 successive time-blocks of 15 minutes each, which basically limits the frequency of fluctuations in consumption. Also, the amendment simplifies access for the consumer connected by a dedicated or common feeder: such consumer may apply for GEOA, if they meet the energy accounting and system operation criteria as specified by the state nodal agency. Common feeder consumers would, however, upgrade their energy meters at their own cost. In case of a shutdown of the common feeder, the regulations also note that open-access consumers will not be eligible to get any compensation for resulting financial losses.

This amendment comes as part of wider state efforts under the Assam Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2025, with the aim of adding 11,700 MW of renewable energy capacity by FY 2030.

The banking charge of ₹1.50/kWh for open-access consumers under its green-energy regulations has been maintained by the GERC.