Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), along with Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), filed a joint petition under Section 86 and other relevant provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, before the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC). The petition aimed to seek implementation of two Government Resolutions (GRs) issued by the Government of Gujarat—dated 08 July 2022 and 17 April 2023—concerning the conversion and regularization of off-grid stand-alone solar pump sets into grid-connected solar pump sets.
The main requests in the petition included granting regular electricity connections to beneficiaries of off-grid solar pump schemes after an initial period of five years, converting off-grid pumps to grid-connected systems, purchasing surplus solar energy injected into the grid by farmers at a rate of ₹1.75 per unit, and recovering the applicable agriculture tariff from users if they draw more energy from the grid than they supply during a billing cycle.
The petitioners argued that after five years of initial support, including financial assistance, insurance, and maintenance (handled by empanelled agencies), the farmers should be considered eligible for regular grid connections. Regarding the rate of ₹1.75 per unit for surplus power purchase, the petitioners emphasized that the rate was competitive and in line with government support to agriculture-focused solar generation.
The Commission had earlier directed the petitioners through a Daily Order dated 11 January 2024 to publish public notices and invite objections or suggestions from stakeholders. In compliance, the petitioners published the notices in the Indian Express, Gujarat Samachar, and Divya Bhaskar. They also filed a compliance affidavit on 20 January 2024. The petition received one submission from the Gujarat Krushi Grahak Suraksha Sangh (GKGSS), to which the petitioners submitted a reply.
During the hearing scheduled on 2 January 2025, no representative from GKGSS was present despite being issued a notice. The Commission noted the absence of communication from GKGSS explaining the non-attendance. It was also confirmed that the petition had been uploaded on the Commission’s website for public access and that comments were collected both through the website and by post.
The Commission recognized the petition as a continuation of the State Government’s earlier scheme initiated via GR dated 25 September 2014. It acknowledged that the current GR dated 08 July 2022 extended the program and mandated State DISCOMs to buy surplus solar power from farmers at ₹1.75 per unit from the date of installation for up to 25 years.
After hearing the arguments and submissions, the Commission declared that the matter was reserved for final order. It allowed parties to file any additional submissions within a week from the date of the order. The hearing was concluded, and the order is expected in due course. The petition thus marks an important step in integrating decentralized solar agriculture into the state’s grid infrastructure while providing long-term benefits to farmers.
