This is a letter written to APEPDCL in A.P but can be viewed by any other DISCOMs anywhere in the world if they are interested to implement solar roof top systems with gross and net metering

1. 26 September 2015
Dear Nageswara Rao garu,
First of all, big thanks for the excellent promotional work your DISCOM has been doing
in popularising solar roof top systems in general and the implementation in Vizag as it
has been now categorized as Smart City. It's really great to motivate public and get 120
applications for net metering in the last 3days as read in the news paper.
As a sincere citizen of Andhra Pradesh and having work experience in more than 20+
countries in this field since 1997, following are my valuable suggestions so as to make
AP as No.1 state not only in India but also in the world related solar net or gross
metering implementation.
1. Please refer 2015 policy as updated on MNRE website(this policy is the best as
on date in my view and need few corrections regarding CEIG approval for above
100 or 150kW systems like it’s done in Tamilnadu and Delhi, etc for which I will
write separate letter to APERC)
• http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/Grid-Connected-Solar-Rooftop-
policy/Andhra_Pradesh_Solar_Policy_2015.pdf
• https://www.apeasternpower.com/framework/skins/EPDCL_SKIN/Pdfs/Sol
ar%20Power%20Generation%20Net%20Metering.pdf and the guidelines
link on APEPDCL website is yet to be updated as per latest policy
• Online application is yet to be implemented by DISCOMs in A.P whereas
DISCOMs in Karnataka,Tamilnadu and Punjab have already been
implemented and can be seen at
• Karnataka at http://115.124.123.136:8080/solar/applicationForm.jsf and
status update at http://bescom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/LATEST-
SERVICED-final.pdf
• Tamilnadu at http://teda.in/incentive-for-domestic-solar-rooftops-
group/ and http://teda.in/apply/incentive-for-domestic-solar-rooftops-
individual/
• Punjab at http://www.netmeteringpunjab.com/registerapipost
• Telangana, progress report can be viewed at
https://tssouthernpower.com/pages/CustomerInformation/NETMtrProgress
ReportWEB.jsp
• And hence it’s very important for APEPDCL to act swiftly and work on
online application and status updates so as to implement the programme
effectively.
2. Punjab is No.1 as on date in India and won award for implementing the solar net
metering in a big way. We too can become No.1 not only in India but also in the
world for which certain measures have to be taken on priority.
• Installations can be done by system integrators like it’s happening in
Karnataka as standards have been already defined and rate contract by
state nodal agency restricts the players and the deposits, fee what they

2. have put in recent EOI is not encouraging small entrepreneur participation
and also allowing those who are empanelled in 2014-15 to participate in
new rate contract is not all correct as it totally restricts new players to
capture the market. In Karnataka, the role of state nodal agency is
negligible and their role in Punjab and Tamilnadu is not as bad as in
A.P..In Karnataka, DISCOM has been even advising net-meter customers
to enter into agreement with system installer so as after sales service,
scope of work are clear even by protecting interests of DISCOM in the
long run.
• We need to evaluate all the solar net meter policies in India as well as
abroad and follow the best practices to protect all stakeholders’ interests
in the right spirit (Consumer, Seller & Customer Service Provider,
DISCOM, etc. The value addition of state nodal agency has to be justified
and really felt or else it’s too autocratic
3. Mobile and web application can be developed for a consumer to take an
informed decision about choosing optimum capacity of solar roof top system so
as his return on investment is better as individual customers currently don’t get
depreciation benefit. In this aspect, we need to pursue and get state and central
government’s support to extend property tax and income tax benefits (In recent
BBMP polls, BJP promised 10% rebate in property tax for solar roof top net
meter owners. Here we can take the help of Vizag Mp, Sri.Hari Babu garu for
convincing centre to offer income tax benefits for individual customers and seek
the help of our dynamic C.M, Sri CBN garu for extending property tax rebate as
we all know and have to admit how difficult it is to get subsidy from MNRE and
NEDCAP. To develop this application, I can interact with your software vendor
with your kind consent and permission as this it-self can give an edge over
anybody not only in India but in the world for rapid implementation of solar roof
top programme and I am very confident that APEPDCL can even win an award
for this application
4. Linking of Aadhar with Electricity Connection can be motivated as consumers
bound to go for it as they get amount for what they sell as total/excess power
generated by under gross/net-metering system.
5. Single Phase and Three Phase Confusion has to be removed and Punjab and
Karnataka have been doing a great job in solving this puzzle even though some
issues are there with pumped power from single phase inverters..Germany is role
model to just allow 3phase but in our country masses are there with single phase
connection and also it’s very difficult to get 3phase solar grid tied inverters below
6kW (Fronius from Austria is the only company which has just launched 3kW
3phase inverter but yet to be tuned for Indian grid as it is designed for 400V AC
whereas our specs are 415V AC in 3phase).
6. Last but not the least, dedicated officers/consultant(s) and facilitators have to be
established by DISCOMs like it’s just started in BESCOM-can be viewed at
http://bescom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DSM-C.pdf and
http://bescom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/final-facilitator-4.6.2015.pdf as
they play a crucial role to complete the regulatory works of consumers as
currently this is a very time consuming for seller and it even takes more than

3. 6months to complete solar roof top system work and to realize his final payment.
Facilitators can simplify and expedite the paper work and approvals to be done
by consumer and system installer. In fact this point is applicable to all the states
as both consumers and sellers have been suffering a lot by running from pillar to
post and often leading to legal fights between sellers and buyers
7. Suryamitra Skill Development Programmes have to refined, re-launched as this
programme requires establishment of necessary infrastructure at least one by
each DISCOM failing which the way it’s proposed to happen now at ANU in
association with NEDCAP and NISE with a meager funding of Rs.12Lakhs for 90
days programme can no w here achieve the desired goals as it can no-where
prepare ITI technicians on LT and HT panel and line works as described in their
syllabus. In this regard, I will write separate communication to MNRE, NISE and
SDCI. The current infrastructure can at the most prepare them to install solar
panels, battery connections, solar pumps, etc and that too if organizers arrange
equipment at the training centre but definitely not to install solar roof top systems-
grid interactive with minimum safety norms.
8. Last but not the least in any purchase money to be paid upfront plays a major
role in any purchase by a consumer and despite of MNRE and RBI taking serious
measures on offering loans for buying solar roof top systems in India, the ground-
level reality is no bank except IDBI has some credible record like in Punjab and
the scheme can be read at
http://www.susolartech.com/FinanceIDBISuryaShakti.pdf Here also all key stake-
holders in Punjab have been pro-actively pursuing with banks to extend loans as
upfront cost is high in solar roof top systems. IREDA has to quickly empanel re-
finance institutions so as they too can offer loans(which they offer currently to
industries or institutions alone) and success story of solar water heaters and
solar pumps programmes implemented by them during 1995-2000 through
KFSL, Wipro Finance, Tata Finance, etc. can be repeated. Tata Cleantech
Capital Ltd can be pursued to launch their soft loans in A.P first as Tata group
has been actively working with A.P to develop villages around new state capital
through Tata Trust.
Looking forward for your detailed response and action plan for which I am ready to
come down and spend time with your officials, management, software vendors, banks,
etc as I hope you will not make me to file a RTI in this regard as I have strong belief in
your professional and improving work culture at APEPDCL.
Best Regards,
Krishna Ambatipudi