The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has given nod to procurement of600 MW of solar power from Solar Energy Corporation of lndia (SECI) in Tranche-Vlllby the distribution companies (DISCOMS). BERC has allowed the procurement at atariff of Rs 2.50/kWh. The trading margin has been kept by the regulator at Rs 0.07for every kWh.
Bihar State Power Holding Company or BSPHC had filed an instant suit on behalf ofall DISCOMs of Bihar whereby it sought approval for the purchase of 600 MW of solarpower from SECl. The procurement was to be held under the interstate transmissionsystem programme.
The petition before BERC sought approval for a long term basis of the solar powerpurchase including Power Sale Agreement(PSA).
The procurement and supply was linked to SECIs 2020 tender for 1200 MW of solarpower where SBE Renewable Fifteen was awarded 600 MW in reverse auction at Rs2.50.kWh. Bihar State Power Holding Company argued that the procurement of600MW of solar energy will meet the renewable purchase obligation or RPO target asthe anticipated renewable purchase obligation or RPO for solar energy was showingcontinued deficit until year 2029-30.
The BERC order found that SECI tariff was competitive and lower than DISCOMsaverage cost of power purchase for financial year 2022-23. BERC also said thatrenewable energy purchase is valid towards fulfilling the renewable purchaseobligation targets.
BERC also held that SECI sold renewable power to different states of india atdiscovered prices. SECI also sold to the DISCOMs of Bihar on similar lines. It BERCorder read that for the adoption of instant discovered price, Central ElectricityRegulation Commission (CERC) was the appropriate body.
The Central Government had fixed a target of 2,969 MW of solar power for Bihar tobe achieved by 2022 to allow the country to achieve 100 GW of solar based powergeneration. The state remains dependent on external pr<~nt for now，withapinternal solar generation yet to cross even 500 MW till date.
