Solar power stalled: Rooftop systems stuck in limbo amid OC confusion

Bengaluru: Every day, enough solar power to light up thousands of households is being generated on rooftops across Karnataka — only to be wasted. Caught in a regulatory limbo triggered by confusion over occupancy certificates (OC) following a Supreme Court order, nearly 3 lakh households with rooftop solar systems remain unable to connect to the power grid for close to a year, resulting in an estimated loss of 23 MW of clean energy generation daily. The delay in linking these units to the grid is also burning a hole in the pockets of property owners.

Karnataka State Licensed Electrical Contractors’ Association (KSLECA) recently estimated that 15-16 lakh applications from newly constructed households are pending for smart meter installation, despite govt relaxation of the OC requirement for buildings built on 30x40ft plots. A fresh assessment by Karnataka Renewable Energy Association (KREA), which represents solar panel distributors, indicates that nearly three lakh households have already installed rooftop solar units but are yet to be integrated with the grid because of continuing confusion over the OC requirement.

Raghunandan SS, president of KREA, said, “These numbers include both those who have availed the subsidy and those using non-subsidy methods. It has been several months since they installed these rooftop units. But not one has been linked to the grid as they have not secured OC from the town planning authorities. In the absence of OC, the electrical supply companies (Escoms) have not linked these units with the grid by installing meters. Going by our statewide estimation, at least Rs 150 crore of investment in rooftop solar units, capable of generating 23 MW of power every day, remains idle as the govt is dragging its feet over resolving the issue.”

Stating that grid synchronisation requires approvals linked to electricity connections and property documentation, Sesha Prasanna N, vice-president of KREA, said, “... Without that connectivity and net-metering permissions from Escoms, property owners cannot utilise the full benefits of rooftop solar. While a major portion of these buildings are in and around Bengaluru, many are also awaiting permission in other major cities and towns of Karnataka.”

The brewing crisis is also casting a shadow over Karnataka’s renewable energy ambitions. The state has been actively promoting distributed solar photovoltaic (DSPV) systems and encouraging households to contribute surplus power to the grid. However, industry experts warn that procedural hurdles linked to OCs could discourage future adoption and undermine investments already made by consumers.

Stakeholders, including property owners, solar distributors and industry bodies, have urged the govt, energy department, and urban development department to evolve a clear mechanism that allows rooftop solar systems to be connected while broader issues surrounding OCs are resolved. They argue that a prolonged stalemate could result not only in financial losses for homeowners but also in the avoidable loss of clean energy at a time when electricity demand continues to rise across Karnataka.

Big buildings may get respite from OC rule

Months after relaxing the mandatory OC requirement for properties built on 30x40ft plots in Bengaluru and within the jurisdiction of urban municipalities and gram panchayats, the govt is now considering extending the relief to larger buildings.

“Recently, a proposal to relax mandatory OC rules for buildings measuring around 2,600sqft to 2,700sqft was discussed informally in the previous state cabinet. Outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah had sought a formal proposal so that a detailed discussion could be held on the subject. However, by then the cabinet was dissolved. We are hopeful that the new cabinet, expected to be formed this week, will consider the proposal and provide relief to larger buildings,” said an official from urban development department.