Guwahati, Sept 08: The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) has intervened in a dispute between the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. (APDCL) and the Assam Power Generation Company Ltd. (APGCL) over the tariff for the proposed 25-MW Namrup Solar PV Project.
The AERC has instructed them to revise their detailed project report (DPR) with a ceiling tariff of Rs 3.90 per unit, rather than the proposed Rs 4.66 per unit. Additionally, they must submit the revised DPR and the power purchase agreement (PPA).
The 25-MW Namrup Solar PV Project is a collaborative effort between APGCL and Oil India Ltd. (OIL). They plan to establish a joint venture company with APGCL owning 51% of the shares and OIL holding the remaining 49%.
This company will focus on renewable and green energy, including energy storage projects in Assam and throughout India. The first project under this initiative is the 25-MW Namrup Solar PV Project, which has received approval from the state cabinet.
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The APGCL board approved the DPR for this project on May 30, 2023. They intend to sell the energy generated from the solar PV plant to APDCL based on the proposed tariff of Rs 4.66 per unit.
However, APDCL argued that this tariff was too high and exceeded the ceiling rate of Rs 4 per unit set by the AERC. They requested that APGCL reassess the project cost to establish a lower tariff that wouldn’t burden consumers.
APDCL also noted that other projects of various capacities had achieved a tariff of Rs 3.90 per unit through reverse bidding by SJVN GREEN ENERGY Limited.
To address the dispute, the AERC has allowed APGCL to revise the DPR for the Namrup Solar PV Project, imposing a ceiling tariff of Rs 3.90 per unit. This decision aims to ensure a fair and reasonable tariff for the project, given its location and ownership by APGCL within the NTPS plant premises.
