Solar Open Access Charges by State: India FY 2026-27

Direct Answer: Which States Have the Cheapest Solar Open Access Charges in FY 2026-27?

For FY 2026-27, Uttar Pradesh (HV-2 industrial consumers at 11 kV) and Maharashtra (HT-I Industry) carry the lowest regulated open access charge stacks in India — below ₹1.50/kWh — while Haryana's third-party stack of approximately ₹4.00/kWh makes group captive the only economically viable solar route there. Rajasthan and Gujarat remain competitive mid-tier states. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu offer attractive economics for captive consumers despite moderate CSS rates.

Last verified: 7 October 2026

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Contents

• How to Read This Table
• Master Comparison Table: All States
• State Notes
  • Rajasthan
  • Gujarat
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Haryana
  • Maharashtra
  • Karnataka
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Delhi, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh
• ISTS Waiver Phase-Out and GEOA 100 kW Rules
• How the Landed Cost Is Calculated
• Group Captive vs Third-Party Open Access
• Frequently Asked Questions

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How to Read This Table

The table below compares regulated open access charges only — what each state's regulator has approved for wheeling, cross-subsidy surcharge (CSS), additional surcharge and banking. It does not include the solar PPA tariff (typically ₹2.80–3.50/kWh for ground-mount solar in FY 2026-27) or intrastate transmission losses (typically 3–6% deducted in-kind).

Indicative total OA charges = wheeling + CSS + additional surcharge (at HT, third-party open access, using mid-range where a range is given). Banking charges are shown separately because they apply only when energy is banked. The full landed solar cost adds the PPA tariff and transmission losses on top.

All figures are for HT industrial consumers on third-party open access unless stated otherwise. Captive and group captive consumers are exempt from CSS and, in most states, from additional surcharge under Section 42 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

Sources are the primary regulatory orders cited. Figures should be verified against the operative schedule before use in a proposal.

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Master Comparison Table: All States

Key: 3P = third-party open access; HT = High Tension; est. = estimated (not from primary order); GEOA = Green Energy Open Access threshold per GEOA Rules 2022. Captive consumers are exempt from CSS and additional surcharge. Verify all figures against operative SERC orders before using in proposals.

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State Notes

Rajasthan

Rajasthan is India's largest solar state and one of the most active open access markets. The RERC DISCOM Tariff Order dated 30 March 2026 sets CSS at ₹1.48/kWh and additional surcharge at ₹0.50/kWh for FY 2026-27 — both figures are lower than the ₹1.58 and ₹0.72 cited in older summaries of this article. Wheeling varies sharply with voltage: ₹0.69/kWh at 11 kV falls to ₹0.01/kWh at 132 kV and above, making plant location and voltage level a critical factor in cost modelling. Banking is charged at 8% in-kind.

See the full Rajasthan open access charges guide for the voltage-wise breakdown and captive treatment.

Gujarat

Gujarat's GERC issued its FY 2026-27 tariff orders on 25 March 2026. Wheeling at HT (11/22/33 kV) increased to ₹0.2352/kWh (up 14.6%) and CSS rose to ₹1.33/kWh (up 3.1%), but the additional surcharge was cut to ₹0.76/kWh for April–September 2026, down from ₹1.00. Wheeling losses dropped to 6.5% from 7.25%, meaning more energy reaches the meter. Under the GERC GEOA Fifth Amendment 2026, banking is charged at ₹1.50/unit. For RE open access, CSS is capped so it cannot increase by more than 50% of the surcharge fixed at the time open access was granted, over 12 years — a meaningful tariff protection for long-term PPAs.

See the full Gujarat open access charges guide for the verified charge table.

Uttar Pradesh

UPERC's Tariff Order dated 2 July 2026 reduced the distribution wheeling charge to ₹0.9318/kWh and capped CSS at the lower of FY 2025-26 or the newly calculated value — a regulatory protection that prevents sudden CSS increases. For HV-2 (Large and Heavy Power) industrial consumers, CSS is just ₹0.38/kWh at 11 kV and ₹0.49/kWh above 11 kV to 66 kV. Consumers connected directly to the State Transmission Network at 132 kV or above do not pay distribution wheeling charges at all. UP is now one of the more accessible states for industrial open access solar, with a very low CSS for the dominant HV-2 category.

See the full UP open access charges guide for CSS category tables.

Haryana

Haryana is the most expensive major state for third-party open access solar. The HERC FY 2026-27 tariff order stacks four charges: wheeling ₹0.73/unit, CSS ₹1.45/unit, additional network cost ₹0.45/unit, and additional surcharge ₹1.37/unit (raised from ₹1.21 and effective from 30 April 2026) — totalling approximately ₹4.00/unit before energy, transmission losses and SLDC fees. This makes third-party solar barely competitive or unviable against grid tariffs. Group captive solar — which avoids CSS and the additional surcharge — is the default structure for virtually every viable Haryana C&I solar deal in 2026.

A sibling article covering FY 2026-27 Haryana charge details is being refreshed concurrently. See the Haryana open access charges guide for the operative figures.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is significantly more competitive for HT industrial consumers than older summaries of this article suggest. Under MERC MYT Order 210 of 2024 (covering the 5th Control Period FY 2025-26 to FY 2029-30), CSS for HT-I Industry at the distribution level is set to zero for FY 2026-27, and additional surcharge is not levied in the 5th Control Period. The HT wheeling charge is ₹0.70/kWh. For EHV Industry, CSS is ₹0.23/kWh — still very low by national standards. The key constraint in Maharashtra is the banking window (restricted) and MERC's 1 MW open access threshold (higher than most states). Landed costs for HT-I group captive consumers are approximately ₹5.30–6.00/unit, but third-party OA at HT-I is now far more viable than in prior years due to zero CSS.

Note: Earlier versions of this article cited a Maharashtra CSS of approximately ₹3.20/unit — this figure was incorrect. The verified figure under MERC MYT Order 210 of 2024 is zero CSS for HT-I Industry.

See the Maharashtra open access charges guide for the full MYT charge schedule and banking rules.

Karnataka

Karnataka's KERC Multi-Year Tariff Order covering FY 2025-26 to FY 2027-28 offers the best tariff visibility in India. Wheeling charges at HT (33 kV and above) range from ₹0.40 to ₹0.70/unit — among the lowest in the country. The additional surcharge was cut from ₹0.82 to ₹0.40/unit by KERC in February 2026. The GEOA threshold of 100 kW is the lowest of any major state, enabling mid-market C&I buyers to participate. Banking is monthly at 8% in-kind until March 2030. CSS was upheld by the Karnataka High Court in June 2026. Karnataka's third-party OA economics (landed ₹5.50–6.80/unit) are more competitive than Haryana or Tamil Nadu third-party OA.

See the Karnataka open access charges guide for the voltage-wise ESCOM breakdown.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu's TNERC GEOA Regulations 2025 introduced an 8% in-kind banking charge (previously zero) and restricted monthly banking to GEOA consumers only — third-party OA transactions can no longer bank energy. CSS for third-party OA is ₹1.00–1.50/unit (HT), making the captive route substantially cheaper: ₹4.00–4.50/unit landed for captive vs. ₹5.80–7.00/unit for third-party. The TANTRANSCO transmission charge (₹0.40–0.60/unit) adds a significant layer that consumers in states with distributed generation closer to load avoid.

A sibling article covering Tamil Nadu charges is being refreshed concurrently. See the Tamil Nadu open access charges guide.

Delhi, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh

Delhi: The DERC published a draft First Amendment to the Green Energy Open Access Regulations on 15 April 2026, proposing to allow 100 kW LT consumers (including aggregated connections) to participate in green open access. This is not yet finalised; consumers should not contract or invest on the basis of the draft. See the Delhi GEOA draft explainer.

Punjab and Madhya Pradesh: Dedicated FY 2026-27 open access charge pages are not yet available for these states. PSERC and MPERC tariff orders are reviewed each financial year. Consumers in Punjab (PSPCL area) and MP should verify charges directly with the respective SERC or a licensed consultant.

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ISTS Waiver Phase-Out and GEOA 100 kW Rules

ISTS Waiver Phase-Out

The Ministry of Power's inter-state transmission system (ISTS) charge and loss waiver — which benefited RE projects commissioned before successive MoP deadlines — has been substantially wound down for new projects. RE projects commissioned after the last applicable cutoff (broadly, June 2026 for the final categories) now bear ISTS charges that add approximately ₹0.50–1.00/unit for power wheeled across state boundaries. This materially changes the economics of interstate open access: a Rajasthan solar plant supplying a factory in Haryana or UP is no longer cost-neutral to intrastate supply on ISTS charges alone. Buyers modelling interstate procurement must confirm whether their project qualifies for any residual waiver and model ISTS costs explicitly.

GEOA 100 kW Threshold

The Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 set a national minimum threshold of 100 kW contracted demand for green energy open access — replacing the earlier 1 MW floor for conventional OA in most states. Most states (Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) have adopted the 100 kW threshold for GEOA consumers. Maharashtra retains 1 MW for conventional open access but has aligned with 100 kW for the GEOA category. Delhi's draft proposes 100 kW for LT consumers. The practical implication: consumers with 100–999 kW contracted load who were previously excluded from open access can now participate in green energy open access — subject to network availability, metering, and scheduling compliance. See the Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 guide for the full framework.

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How the Landed Cost Is Calculated

The full landed cost of open access solar has five components:

Landed Cost = Solar PPA Tariff + Wheeling Charge + CSS (if applicable) + Additional Surcharge (if applicable) + Transmission Losses (in-kind deduction)

• Solar PPA Tariff: Typically ₹2.80–3.50/kWh for ground-mount solar in competitive markets in FY 2026-27. Similar across states for comparable plant sizes and IRR expectations.
• Wheeling Charge: Approved by each state SERC. Falls sharply with voltage — a 132 kV consumer in Rajasthan pays ₹0.01/kWh vs. ₹0.69/kWh at 11 kV.
• Cross-Subsidy Surcharge (CSS): The largest variable. Group captive consumers are exempt under Section 42 of the Electricity Act. Third-party consumers pay the full rate. CSS waived or zero: Maharashtra HT-I, UP HV-2 (very low at ₹0.38), Gujarat RE projects (50% cap over 12 years).
• Additional Surcharge: Not levied in Maharashtra for the 5th Control Period. Significant in Haryana (₹1.37/unit). Reduced in Karnataka (₹0.40) and Gujarat (₹0.76 for Apr–Sep 2026).
• Transmission Losses: Deducted in-kind (typically 3.5–6.5% of injected energy, depending on distance and voltage).

SLDC scheduling fees (₹0.02–0.10/unit), electricity duty, retained demand charges, and banking charges are additional items not shown in the master table.

For a deeper dive into the cost model and the group captive vs. third-party comparison, see our third-party vs group captive solar guide and the open access solar India guide.

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Group Captive vs Third-Party Open Access

Group captive solar — where the C&I consumer holds 26% or more equity in the solar plant and consumes at least 51% of its generation — eliminates CSS entirely and, in most states, exempts the additional surcharge too. This is the most impactful structural choice for any industrial buyer evaluating open access solar.

The benefit is largest in states with the highest CSS: Haryana (₹1.45/unit saved), Tamil Nadu (₹1.00–1.50), Gujarat (₹1.33), Rajasthan (₹1.48). In Maharashtra HT-I where CSS is already zero, the structural benefit of group captive over third-party is smaller — the key driver there is banking and scheduling flexibility.

See the third-party vs group captive solar guide for a full comparison of equity, governance, and exit provisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which state has the lowest open access charges for solar in India?

For FY 2026-27, Uttar Pradesh (HV-2 industrial consumers at 11 kV) and Maharashtra (HT-I Industry at the distribution level) carry the lowest regulated open access charge stacks. UP's CSS for HV-2 is ₹0.38/kWh under the UPERC Tariff Order dated 2 July 2026. Maharashtra's CSS for HT-I Industry is zero under MERC MYT Order 210 of 2024, and no additional surcharge is levied in the 5th Control Period. However, both states have banking restrictions and other procedural requirements that affect project economics; a low charge rate does not automatically equal the best overall deal.

What are the open access charges in Maharashtra in FY 2026-27?

For HT-I Industry consumers at the distribution level, the cross-subsidy surcharge is zero for FY 2026-27 under MERC MYT Order 210 of 2024. The HT wheeling charge is ₹0.70/kWh, and no additional surcharge is levied in the 5th Control Period (FY 2025-26 to FY 2029-30). MSETCL intrastate transmission charges are approximately ₹0.40/unit. This makes Maharashtra far more competitive for third-party HT-I open access than older industry summaries suggest. The 1 MW open access threshold and restricted banking window remain key operational constraints.

What is the CSS rate for open access solar in Haryana?

The Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has approved a CSS of ₹1.45/unit for HT industrial open access consumers in FY 2026-27. Combined with an additional surcharge of ₹1.37/unit (effective from 30 April 2026), wheeling of ₹0.73/unit and additional network cost of ₹0.45/unit, the total regulated charge stack for third-party open access in Haryana is approximately ₹4.00/unit. Captive and group captive consumers are exempt from CSS and the additional surcharge, reducing their charge stack to approximately ₹1.18/unit — which is why nearly every viable Haryana solar deal in 2026 is structured as group captive.

What is the open access threshold for solar in India after the GEOA Rules 2022?

The Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022 set a national threshold of 100 kW contracted demand for green energy open access — down from the previous 1 MW floor for conventional open access. Most major states (Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) have adopted this 100 kW threshold. Maharashtra retains 1 MW for conventional open access but allows 100 kW for the GEOA category. Delhi has proposed 100 kW for LT consumers in a draft amendment dated 15 April 2026, which is not yet finalised. See the full GEOA Rules 2022 guide.

How does the ISTS waiver phase-out affect inter-state solar open access?

The ISTS waiver covered charges and losses for RE projects on the inter-state transmission network up to successive deadline dates. Projects commissioned after the last applicable cutoff (broadly June 2026 for the final wave) now bear ISTS charges — approximately ₹0.50–1.00/unit for power wheeled across state boundaries. This makes purely intrastate procurement more attractive for most C&I buyers, and means that an interstate solar deal (e.g., Rajasthan plant supplying Haryana factory) must explicitly model ISTS costs to determine if savings still clear the hurdle. Buyers should confirm waiver eligibility with the project developer and verify against the applicable MoP order.

What is open access solar and who qualifies?

Open access solar allows industrial or commercial consumers to buy electricity directly from a solar plant at an agreed tariff, delivered via the grid, instead of buying from their local DISCOM. The consumer pays the solar generator's PPA rate plus regulated grid charges (wheeling, transmission, CSS, banking). Under the GEOA Rules 2022, consumers with 100 kW or more of contracted demand are eligible for green energy open access. The conventional open access threshold is still 1 MW in some states. Group captive consumers (26% equity, 51% consumption) qualify regardless of the GEOA threshold and are exempt from CSS. See the open access solar India guide for the full framework.

Which is better: third-party open access or group captive solar?

Group captive solar eliminates CSS — the single largest regulated charge — and typically the additional surcharge, making it the lower-cost route in almost every state. The trade-off is the 26% equity requirement, ongoing captive compliance (annual verification of equity and consumption ratios), and governance complexity for multi-consumer plants. Third-party open access requires no equity investment but carries the full CSS — economically viable only in states where CSS is low (Maharashtra HT-I at zero, UP HV-2 at ₹0.38) or where RE open access CSS reductions apply. See the third-party vs group captive guide for a state-by-state economic comparison.

Are open access solar charges the same for all voltage levels?

No — wheeling charges, and sometimes CSS, vary sharply by connection voltage. In Rajasthan, wheeling ranges from ₹1.93/kWh at LT to ₹0.01/kWh at 132 kV and above. In Maharashtra, wheeling is ₹2.33/kWh at LT, ₹0.70/kWh at HT, and ₹0.04/kWh at EHV. Consumers with higher-voltage connections (33 kV, 66 kV, 132 kV) pay significantly less in wheeling charges and often achieve better open access economics. Always confirm the applicable charge using your actual connection voltage, not a state average.