Overview

• Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s draft 2025 regulations propose reducing the net metering cap from 1000 kW to 3 kW, a change stakeholders say will cripple distributed solar deployment.
• Masters Association and allied prosumer groups shut down solar trade operations statewide and staged a protest at the KSERC office in Thiruvananthapuram on July 3.
• Critics warn technical requirements such as mandatory 30% battery storage for systems above 5 kW, a Re 1 per unit grid support charge, and the end of excess generation carryforward will raise costs and undermine project returns.
• Traders and chambers demand retention of the 1000 kW net metering policy, alignment with central programmes like PM Surya Ghar, and in-person hearings in each constituency to ensure inclusive stakeholder input.
• KSERC has slated online hearings from July 8 to 11 in three daily sessions to collect public feedback, but industry groups are calling for physical constituency-level forums to address local concerns.