Maharashtra's Rooftop Solar Charges Under Review: A Potential Setback

The Maharashtra government has established a committee to evaluate electricity duty on Rooftop Solar (RTS) consumers and the implementation of 'Grid Support Charges' (GSC). These charges could hinder the state's solar mission, prompting the Thane Small Scale Industries Association to advocate for change.

The Thane Small Scale Industries Association (TSSIA) announced that the Maharashtra government has formed a committee to analyze the applicability of electricity duty on Rooftop Solar (RTS) consumers. This move follows TSSIA's formal representation against the proposed 'Grid Support Charges' (GSC), which the association described as an 'unnecessary burden' that risks impeding Maharashtra's solar expansion goals.

Concerns were raised by TSSIA President Sandeep Parikh and Honorary General Secretary Bhavesh Maru, who highlighted the hesitancy among industrial consumers regarding significant investments in rooftop solar due to the potential financial burden imposed by GSCs.

The committee, led by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) Director (Commercial) Yogesh Gadkari, is tasked with reviewing the necessity of electricity duty on self-consumption and net metering. It will also recommend duty structures for the GSCs recently sanctioned by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC).