WBERC Issues Grid-Interactive Rooftop Solar PV Regulations, 2025

The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) has notified the 'Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System for Prosumers' Regulations, 2025, introducing comprehensive reforms aimed at boosting rooftop solar installations across the state.

The new regulations simplify processes, expand consumer rights, and set ambitious capacity targets for distribution companies, replacing the earlier 2020 provisions.

The regulations allow prosumers to choose from three models,  net metering, where energy exported to the grid offsets imported units with annual surplus reset; net billing, under which exported solar power earns feed-in tariffs and imported power is billed at retail rates with monetary surplus reset yearly; and gross metering, where the entire generation is sold to discoms at feed-in tariffs while consumption is billed separately.

Eligibility extends to all consumers with a sanctioned load of at least one kilowatt, with rooftop solar systems capped at 500 kilowatts or the sanctioned load, whichever is lower. Resident Welfare Associations are also permitted to install systems under the policy. Approvals for systems of up to 10 kW will be granted automatically without any feasibility study, while projects above 10 kW will require technical studies to be completed by discoms within 15 days. Installations must be completed within 180 days, with a provision for a 90-day extension.

For the period 2025-26, capacity targets are fixed at 100 MW for WBSEDCL, 25 MW for CESC, and 25 MW and 5 MW for DVC and IPCL respectively. For 2026-27, the targets rise to 195 MW for WBSEDCL, 50 MW for CESC, and 50 MW and 5 MW for DVC and IPCL respectively. Application fees are set at INR 1,000 for low and medium voltage connections and INR 5,000 for high and extra high voltage connections. Discoms will bear the infrastructure costs for systems up to 10 kW, and prosumers remain eligible for both central and state financial incentives.

The regulations mandate anti-islanding protection, harmonic filters, and annual certification from NABL-accredited laboratories. Billing will include detailed statements of energy import and export, with time-of-day tariffs applied where relevant and time-block adjustments for solar offset.

In addition to repealing outdated provisions, the new rules clarify Renewable Purchase Obligation benefits, require discoms to launch online application portals within one month, and mandate quarterly publication of installation reports. As per the notification,"The distribution licensee shall facilitate the process for setting up a Grid Interactive Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic System at prosumers' premises. In this regard, the licensee shall create an online portal within one month from the date of publication of these regulations for receiving applications from prosumers for installation, interconnection and metering of distributed renewable energy systems or devices at their premises."

These regulations empower prosumers to contribute to West Bengal’s green energy transition while retaining consumer rights. Discoms must ensure seamless integration, as per WBERC.