MERC Upholds Right to Use Rooftop Net-Metering Alongside Open Access

MERC Upholds Right to Use Rooftop Net-Metering Alongside Open Access

December 2, 2025

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has reiterated that electricity consumers in its jurisdiction have the right to use rooftop-solar net-metering and open access simultaneously under the amended regulations, directing the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. to extend appropriate billing credit to a petitioner whose benefit was wrongly denied.

A Kolhapur-based trust Sou Sushila D. Ghodawat Charitable Trust (SSDGT) had approached MERC alleging that despite using short-term open access and having a rooftop solar installation, MSEDCL billed them on gross-metering terms, effectively stripping them of net-metering advantages. The trust also sought compensation, claiming over ₹60.96 lakh had been overcharged.

MSEDCL supported its stand, stating that SSDGT had failed to comply with all green-energy open access application protocols under the Distribution Open Access (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2023. MERC, in its order, mentioned that MSEDCL delayed the implementation of the amended regulations, issuing the necessary circular only in September 2024, nearly 10 months after notification, thereby creating procedural confusion. Because MSEDCL had already approved open access for SSDGT, the Commission held that disallowing net metering simultaneously was unjustified. Thus, MERC ordered MSEDCL to modify SSDGT’s bills by applying credit adjustments and reconciling the claim within 30 days, although the final order remains subject to the outcome of another related case.