Assam Amends Open Access Regulations to Facilitate Green Energy Adoption and Grid Integration

The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) recently issued the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions for Open Access) Regulations, 2024, (First Amendment), 2025, which came into force upon its publication in the Assam Gazette on November 6, 2025. This amendment instrument, notified on October 16, 2025, revises the principal AERC (Terms and Conditions for Open Access) Regulations, 2024, originally published on December 4, 2024. The amendments were prompted by a petition (no. 12/2025) filed before the Commission concerning Regulation 4.3 and Regulation 4.5 of the principal regulations, leading to a decision by the Commission on September 24, 2025, to introduce these changes. The new regulations apply uniformly across the entire State of Assam.

A significant modification introduced by the amendment pertains to Regulation 4.3, which now broadens the eligibility for Green Energy Open Access (GEOA). This provision allows all consumers with a contracted demand or sanctioned load of one hundred kilowatts (100 kW) and above to access green energy, either through a single connection or by aggregating multiple connections to meet the 100 kW threshold. Such aggregated access must be facilitated by a designated "Lead GEOA Consumer" within the same electricity division of a distribution licensee. Crucially, the amendment removes any load limit for consumers opting for captive use of green energy, a move designed to encourage self-generation from renewable sources. The legislation provided: “Provided, further that there shall be no limit with respect to contracted load or sanctioned load for the captive use of green energy by the consumer opting under Green Energy Open Access.” Additionally, a new condition mandates that consumers shall not change the quantum of power consumed through GEOA for a minimum of 12 time-blocks of 15-minute intervals, aiming to prevent high variations in demand that the distribution licensee (the entity responsible for supplying electricity to end-users) must meet.

Further, Regulation 4.5 was amended to clarify the conditions for open access for consumers connected via dedicated or common feeders, irrespective of their voltage of supply, provided there are no operational constraints. Consumers utilizing a common feeder (an electrical line serving multiple users) are now required to adhere to specific criteria for energy accounting and system operation as detailed by the State Nodal Agency. Open access for these consumers is contingent upon their agreement to any restrictions imposed by the licensee, State Transmission Utility (STU), or State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), which are responsible for managing the state's power grid. Applicants seeking open access on a common feeder must upgrade their existing energy meters for accurate energy accounting at their own expense. The amendment also explicitly states that consumers will not be entitled to compensation for financial losses incurred due to unforeseen shutdowns of common feeders. A new clause 76 was added to Regulation 3.1, defining a "Lead GEOA Consumer" as an authorized representative coordinating on behalf of multiple GEOA consumers who aggregate their contracted demand or sanctioned load to meet the 100 kW threshold within the same electricity division.

The legislative intent behind these amendments, as stated by the Commission, is to promote Open Access (the right of a consumer to obtain electricity from a source other than their local distribution licensee) and foster the growth of renewable energy within Assam. By lowering the eligibility threshold for Green Energy Open Access and removing load limits for captive green energy use, the regulations aim to make renewable energy more accessible to a wider range of consumers, including smaller industrial and commercial establishments. The amendments address previous limitations in the statutory framework that might have hindered broader participation in green energy initiatives. The clarification regarding common feeder access and the introduction of the "Lead GEOA Consumer" concept streamline the process for multiple consumers to collectively benefit from open access, thereby enhancing grid integration and operational efficiency. These changes, enacted under the powers conferred by Section 181(1) read with relevant provisions of Sections 30, 39, 40, 42, and 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003, are expected to contribute significantly to the state's renewable energy targets and improve the overall framework for electricity access and supply.

Keywords: Assam Electricity, Open Access Regulations, Green Energy, Renewable Energy, AERC, Electricity Act 2003, Power Sector, Energy Policy, Captive Power

Geo Tags: India, Assam District: Not Applicable