The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) will open a series of hearings from Tuesday (July 8) on its draft regulations on renewable energy, amid strong objections raised by organisations representing traders and solar prosumers to the content.
The hearings, planned in online mode, will be held on July 8, 10, 11, and July 16. The Commission has postponed the hearing planned on July 9 to 16 on account of the general strike called by trade unions. While the online hearings are meant for registered participants, stakeholders and members of the public can file their opinions, suggestions and objections in writing till 5 p.m. on July 14, the three-member Commission headed by T.K. Jose said.
The draft KSERC (Renewable Energy and Related Matters) Regulations, 2025, meant to replace the 2020 regulations which expired in 2024-25, “aims to promote renewable energy in Kerala in alignment with the National and State Renewable Energy (RE) targets and Net Zero commitments,” according to the Commission.
Broadly, it places thrust on promoting energy storage and seeks to lay the foundation for the integration of technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G), peer-to-peer (P2P) trading, virtual net metering and group net metering in the State’s renewable energy sector. The Commission also plans to introduce the new billing and settlement mechanisms proposed under the new regulations from October 1.
However, organisations representing prosumers and traders allege that the draft proposals would hamper the progress achieved by the State in renewable energy. The modifications suggested to the billing system, especially restricting net metering to 3 kW (5 kW with battery), has drawn flak from them.
The Commission had published the draft regulations on its website on May 30 for stakeholder feedback. Prior to this, it had also pepared a detailed discussion paper on the status and propsects of the renewable energy sector in the State.
However, protests against the draft have mounted over the past weeks. On July 3, organisations representing traders and solar prosumers staged a massive protest outside the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission office here, terming the contents of the draft impractical and damaging to the sector. Traders in the sector also observed a ‘Solar Bandh’ on the day by keeping firms involved in the manufacture, sale, installation and service of RE components shut.
The Commission is also planning to live-stream the hearings on YouTube.
