AERC Rejects APDCL’s Proposed Net-Metering Restrictions, Directs Continuation of Current Rooftop Solar Framework

In an interim order dated August 5, 2026, the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) directed the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to continue processing rooftop solar applications under the state’s existing regulatory framework. The Commission rejected the utility’s immediate proposals to restrict net-metering benefits for various consumer classes and to discontinue financial compensation for surplus power.

Proposed Regulatory Amendments

The APDCL filed a petition seeking to amend the AERC (Grid Interactive Solar PV Systems) Regulations with several restrictive measures. The Commission has directed the utility to maintain status quo, rejecting the following proposals:

• Limiting rooftop solar capacity to 100% of the consumer’s connected load or contract demand, whichever is lower, for both low-tension and high-tension consumers.
• Restricting the availability of net-metering benefits exclusively to residential consumers with a connected load of up to 10 kWp, a measure APDCL cited as being based on the Assam Solar Generation Promotion Policy, 2025.
• The proposal to treat surplus electricity remaining at the end of the annual settlement period as “inadvertent injection,” which would result in zero financial compensation to the consumer.

Financial Impact and Utility Claims

In its petition, APDCL argued that the current net-metering framework imposes a significant financial burden on the utility. The following data was provided to support the claim of estimated losses and payout obligations:

APDCL Estimated Annual Financial Impact

Commission Findings and Analysis

During the hearing held on July 28, 2026, the AERC bench—comprising Chairperson Lt. Gen. Rana Pratap Kalita (Retd) and Member Upananda Kataki—found APDCL’s financial analysis to be insufficient. The Commission determined that the utility’s assessment was incomplete because it failed to account for:

1. Time-of-day variations in power purchase costs.
2. Savings accrued to the utility from daytime solar generation.
3. The specific value of avoided electricity purchases during peak-demand periods.
4. The lack of a transparent and comprehensive cost-benefit assessment to justify the proposed restrictions.

Operational Directives and Regulatory Compliance

The Commission’s interim order issued several technical and operational mandates to ensure the growth of rooftop solar is not hindered during the ongoing legal proceedings.

Regulatory Adherence

APDCL is instructed to process all applications in strict accordance with the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, existing state regulations, and the guidelines of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.

Application Processing

The utility is strictly prohibited from delaying, rejecting, or holding any rooftop solar applications pending due to the ongoing regulatory petition.

Prohibited Demands

The Commission has issued a ban on APDCL demanding extra-regulatory technical requirements or unauthorized documentation not explicitly permitted under the current framework.

Automation

APDCL must immediately operationalize “deemed acceptance” and “automatic load enhancement” for all rooftop solar systems up to 10 kW.

Submission Deadline

By August 26, 2026, APDCL is required to submit a revised financial impact study, an assessment regarding the operational impact of Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading, and a formal compliance report on affidavit.

Implementation Status

The current net-metering rules remain fully operational across all consumer categories in Assam. The Commission will review the matter further only after the utility submits the requested revised data and the corresponding compliance affidavit. Until such time, the proposed amendments are set aside.

Official Sources & Regulatory Portals

• Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) The state electricity regulatory commission governing net-metering regulations, tariffs, and grid interconnections. Official AERC Website
• Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) The state distribution utility managing solar grid feasibility checks, applications, and net meter installations. Official APDCL Portal
• National Portal for PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana The centralized national platform for registration, solar capacity calculations, and central subsidy applications. Official National Solar Portal
• Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) The state nodal agency facilitating solar program guidelines and the state’s top-up subsidy program. Official AEDA Website