UPERC Simplifies Green Energy Open Access: New Order Eases Metering and Fee Requirements in Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued a “Removal of Difficulty” order to streamline the operational framework for Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) within the state. Following a period of intense policy activity in February 2026, this regulatory intervention seeks to ease metering requirements for low-voltage installations and restructure fee frameworks for registration and application processes. The order serves to bridge the gap between legacy metering mandates and the modern digital infrastructure—specifically smart meters—required to support the state’s evolving GEOA ecosystem.

Regulatory Revisions for Low-Voltage Metering

The commission has introduced specific revisions to metering mandates for consumers operating at voltage levels up to 650V. These changes are designed to reduce the technical and financial overhead for smaller GEOA participants while ensuring data integrity through advanced infrastructure.

• Check Meter Exemption: For all installations at or below 650V, check meters are no longer a mandatory requirement.
• Consumer Option: A check meter will only be installed within this voltage bracket if specifically requested by the consumer.
• Smart Meter Specifications: Under the revised rules, interface meters for these consumers must be smart meters maintaining an accuracy class of 1.0/0.5S.
• Compliance Sufficiency: The “main meter” is now considered sufficient for all regulatory compliance and billing purposes, provided it meets the specified accuracy and smart-metering standards.

Revised Fee Framework for Lead GEOA Consumers

To address the financial requirements of multi-consumer and group captive arrangements, the commission has adjusted the fee structures for lead consumers. The revised rates and minimum application thresholds are outlined in the table below:

Technical Basis and Regulatory Alignment

The UPERC cited two primary technical and strategic drivers for the issuance of this order:

1. Alignment with National Standards: The modifications ensure that state-level rules align with the Draft CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published on February 23, 2026. This alignment is critical for maintaining consistency with national grid modernization efforts.
2. Stakeholder Representations and Financial Adjustments: The commission acted upon representations from industry stakeholders regarding the high financial burdens associated with multi-consumer and group captive arrangements. These adjustments are designed to support “market-enabled energy access at the retail level,” a core objective of the India Energy Stack (IES) framework, which seeks to decentralize and digitize electricity transactions.

Implementation Timeline

This order takes immediate effect and serves as an implementation-enabling framework for the Green Energy Open Access ecosystem in Uttar Pradesh.