The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) on May 12, 2026, issued the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) (Eighth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, further to amend the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) Regulations, 2017.
The following has been stated:
• The amendment introduces new definitions for “Biomass” and “Biomass Gasification.” Biomass has been broadly defined to include agricultural and forestry waste, by-products of agricultural processing, energy plantation wood, industrial wood waste, and other wastes recognized by the Central Government. Biomass gasification has been defined as the process of incomplete combustion of biomass that produces combustible gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and traces of methane.
• The amendment also revises the definition of “Useful Life” for renewable energy projects and their dedicated evacuation systems. The regulations now specify project-wise operational life periods, including 25 years for wind, biomass, solar, biogas, and biomass gasifier projects; 40 years for small hydro projects; and 20 years for municipal solid waste/refuse-derived fuel projects. For renewable hybrid energy projects, the useful life will be based on the minimum life of the combined renewable technologies, while renewable energy projects with storage will have the same useful life as the main project, excluding storage considerations.
• The last date for submitting objections or suggestions is June 12, 2026.
[Notification no. - HPERC/428]
