Buying power from renewable sources mandatory: HERC

CHANDIGARH: Power utilities in Haryana will have to buy at least three per cent of the total energy consumed in the state this fiscal from renewable energy sources and increase this to 10 per cent by 2009-10, with the state regulator issuing directions to make it mandatory.

Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has issued orders on renewable energy tariff and other issues, for 2007-08 to 2012-13, an official spokesman said here on Friday.

He said distribution licensess will have to buy a minimum of three per cent from non-conventional energy sources for 2007-08, five per cent in 2008-09 and 10 per cent in 2009-10.

The commission has fixed the tariffs for electricity purchased from wind energy projects, mini-hydel, biomass and bagasse co-generation projects.

He said the commission has fixed the wheeling charges at the rate of two per cent of the energy fed to the grid. HERC has also allowed banking facilities with the condition that surplus energy at the end of the financial year would not be allowed to be carried forward to the next year.

As per the provisions of Electricity Act, 2003, National Electricity Policy and National Tariff Policy, state regulators must specify the percentage of power to be bought by distribution firms from non-conventional projects.

The spokesperson also said Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) has been declared a nodal agency for promotion of renewable energy in the state.