K'taka HC strikes down Centre's renewable energy promotion rules

OBSERVING that the power to enact a law to achieve net-zero emission cannot empower the central government to transgress the existing Electricity Act, 2003, the Karnataka High Court struck down the Centre's Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022, and also the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) (Terms and Conditions for Green Energy Open Access) Regulations, 2022, framed by KERC, for lack of competence to frame the same.

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The court directed the KERC to frame appropriate regulations if it so desires, in the matter of granting open access to green energy generators and consumers. During this exercise, the court said the KERC will only be guided by the National Electricity Policy and the Tariff Policy framed by the central government, and should independently consider the interests of all the stakeholders before framing the regulations. Justice N S San