The petition was filed under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, seeking the adoption of the tariff discovered through a competitive bidding process conducted by MGVCL (Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited) for 33 solar plants totaling 76 MW. These plants are part of the PM-KUSUM-C scheme, aiming for the solarization of 11 kV feeders in Gujarat. The petitioner submitted that the bidding process was carried out under the RESCO model, as per the guidelines for the PM-KUSUM scheme. MGVCL invited bids through the tender for the installation of solar projects, and various documents related to the bidding process were provided. The price discovered in the bidding ranged from ₹2.15 to ₹3.43 per kWh, with the ceiling price set at ₹3.00 per unit.
During the hearing, the Commission raised queries about the pricing and the recent tariff determined in the GUVNL competitive bidding process, where the tariff was found to be in the range of ₹2.55 to ₹2.56 per unit. The petitioner was asked to provide additional details regarding the tariff issue, particularly regarding the financial assistance from the government and the discovered tariff’s alignment with the current market rates. The Commission noted that the tariff offered by the petitioner was considerably higher than the prevailing rates, especially considering the financial assistance available under the PM-KUSUM-C scheme.
The petitioner was also directed to provide the complete details of the bidding process and the necessary documents supporting compliance with MNRE guidelines. This includes confirming the technical and financial qualifications of bidders, along with reports prepared by the Bid Evaluation Committee. Furthermore, the Commission decided to conduct a public hearing to gather stakeholder views on the matter, allowing for a more transparent decision-making process. The petitioner was tasked with issuing a public notice inviting comments and objections from stakeholders, which would be considered before proceeding with the tariff adoption.
This matter remains under review, with the petitioner expected to submit the required additional information and address the concerns raised by the Commission. The process aims to ensure that the tariff adopted is fair, in line with current market conditions, and consistent with the objectives of the PM-KUSUM-C scheme.
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