The Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has issued an amendment to its earlier order on net metering/bi-directional metering and their connectivity with respect to rooftop solar PV projects, originally notified on 19 August 2016 and subsequently amended up to 5 May 2022.
The amendment addresses emerging issues such as the use of hybrid inverters by prosumers, compliance with standards, and alignment with Government of India schemes. It also incorporates recent directives from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), including:
- OM dated 20 September 2024, permitting the use of various types of inverters, including hybrid inverters.
- OM dated 21 July 2025, mandating SIM-based data loggers with M2M SIM communication protocol for real-time generation monitoring and data transmission.
Key Amendments Include:
- Hybrid Inverters—Defined as bi-directional inverters capable of interfacing with both solar PV modules and energy storage systems, managing electricity flow between the renewable energy system, battery storage, consumer load, and grid.
- Inverter Options—Consumers now have the choice to install grid-tied inverters or hybrid inverters, with corresponding line diagrams provided in Annexure-I & Annexure-II.
- Scheme Alignment—For Central/State Government schemes, conditions outlined in the respective schemes will prevail while installing photovoltaic systems.
- Real-Time Measurement—Inverter communication devices/dongles/data loggers with M2M SIM communication protocol can be used for real-time measurement and transmission of generation data in lieu of generation meters.
- Metering Costs—Costs related to meters, connectivity, and related equipment shall be borne by eligible consumers under the guidance of the concerned distribution licensee. Procurement may be done by either the consumer or the distribution licensee, with installation and testing as per CEA Metering Regulations/OERC Supply Code.
- Inverter Standards—Grid-tied and hybrid inverters must be sine wave inverters meeting IEEE 519 harmonic standards and MNRE-mandated safety and islanding prevention standards (IS 16221 Part 2:2015 / IEC 62109-2:2011, IS 16169:2019 / IEC 62116:2014).
- Annexures Update – New Annexure-II added; existing Annexure-II renamed as Annexure-III, and Annexure-III renamed as Annexure-IV.
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