Follow India Renewable Energy News on WhatsApp for exclusive updates on clean energy news and insights

Punjab Proposes Carry-Forward of Banked Energy for InSTS Open Access Projects

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission has proposed amendments to allow carry-forward of banked energy for intrastate open access renewable projects, with stakeholder feedback invited until April 20, 2026.

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has issued draft amendments to its Intra-State Open Access Regulations, 2011, proposing to permit the carry-forward of banked energy for intrastate transmission system (InSTS)-connected green energy open access projects, including captive users.

Under the proposed framework, renewable energy generators would be allowed to carry forward surplus banked energy on a monthly basis until the end of a defined settlement period. This period is proposed to run from June 1 of the current year to May 31 of the following year, offering greater flexibility in energy utilization.

However, the draft also clarifies that any unutilized banked energy remaining at the end of the settlement cycle will lapse without compensation. For FY 2026, the settlement timeline is proposed to be extended until May 31, 2026, with surplus power to be governed by provisions under the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy to Green Energy Open Access) Amendment Rules, 2023.

The Commission has invited stakeholders to submit their comments and suggestions on the proposal by April 20, 2026.

In recent developments, PSERC had approved additional surcharges for open access consumers, following a request from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. The charges include Rs1.22/kWh for full open access users and Rs0.83/kWh for partial open access consumers.

To further strengthen grid discipline, PSERC has also introduced draft regulations on deviation settlement mechanisms for InSTS-connected projects. These aim to ensure adherence to scheduled power injection and drawal while maintaining overall grid stability.

Separately, policy support at the national level—such as recent changes by the Ministry of Power allowing group captive consumers to collectively meet consumption requirements—is expected to encourage greater adoption of open access among commercial and industrial users.

According to industry data, India added approximately 7.8 GW of solar open access capacity in 2025, indicating stable growth in the segment and continued interest from businesses in sourcing renewable energy through open access mechanisms.