Your Odisha factory pays ₹9-12/kWh for grid power. Open access solar can cut that by 30-40%.
But the charges matter. CSS. Wheeling. Transmission. Banking. Get them wrong, your savings disappear.
How open access works in Odisha
The flow:
- Solar plant injects power into GRIDCO's grid
- Your facility draws from the grid at your end
- GRIDCO (or DISCOM) handles wheeling — moving power from plant to you
- You pay: solar tariff + wheeling + transmission + cross-subsidy surcharge (unless exempt)
Not captive. You don't own the plant. You buy power from a generator via open access. Third-party sale.
The charges that determine your cost
1. Cross-Subsidy Surcharge (CSS)
Industrial consumers subsidize agriculture and residential. When you buy cheaper open access power, you bypass the subsidy pool. OERC charges you anyway.
Odisha CSS (HT industrial): ₹1.10-2.50/kWh depending on DISCOM and consumer category.
Exemptions under Odisha Renewable Energy Policy 2022:
- 50% CSS exemption — renewable power from state-commissioned projects (15-year period)
- Zero CSS — power from GRIDCO as demand aggregator (specific structure)
- Check OERC notifications for your DISCOM and category.
2. Wheeling Charges
Cost to move power through distribution network. Varies by DISCOM.
Odisha: ₹0.02-1.20/kWh depending on DISCOM (TPCODL, TPNODL, TPWODL, TPSODL have different rates).
Exemption: 25% wheeling exemption for captive/open access renewable consumers under OREP-2022.
3. Transmission Charges
GRIDCO/SLDC charges for use of transmission network.
Typical: ₹255/MWh (~₹0.25/kWh) plus normative losses (3% transmission, 8% HT wheeling).
4. Banking
Inject solar during day, withdraw at night. Odisha allows banking with monthly settlement. Typically 90-95% utilization — you lose 5-10% to banking losses.
Without BESS: You bank daytime solar, draw at night. Banking losses apply. Seasonal variation hurts.
With plant-side BESS: Solar charges battery by day, battery dispatches in evening. Less banking. Better economics. GRIDCO compliance built in.
Open access vs captive in Odisha
Open Access:
- Third-party generator sells you power
- You pay CSS + wheeling + transmission
- No ownership
- Faster to sign — no equity structure
Captive:
- You own 26%+ of the plant (or group company)
- No CSS charges
- Still pay wheeling + transmission
- CSS savings: ₹1.10-2.50/kWh
When captive wins: High consumption, long-term commitment. CSS savings alone can be ₹15-25 crore annually for 50 MW load.
When open access wins: Want zero capex, faster offtake, no ownership complexity. Accept CSS. Still save vs grid.
Khurda Energy Park — Open Access in practice
48 MW solar + BESS. Khurda. 5 MW available Q3 2026.
We inject into GRIDCO. You draw at your facility. We quote all-in — solar tariff includes our view of applicable wheeling/transmission. You get one number to compare to grid.
OREP-2022 compliant. State-commissioned project. CSS exemptions may apply — confirm with your DISCOM.
Plant-side BESS standard. Evening delivery. Less banking dependency. Better economics than solar-only open access.
What your CFO needs to verify
Before signing any open access PPA:
- Your DISCOM — TPCODL, TPNODL, TPWODL, TPSODL? Rates differ.
- CSS applicability — Are you eligible for 50% or 100% exemption under OREP-2022?
- Wheeling exemption — 25% for renewable. Confirm your category.
- Banking rules — Monthly settlement. Loss factor. Don't assume 100% utilization.
- Transmission path — Injection point to your draw point. Losses add up.
Get it in writing. DISCOM approval. OERC order reference. Don't rely on verbal assurances.
The Odisha advantage
Policy support: OREP-2022. CSS exemptions. Wheeling exemptions. Single-window clearances.
Infrastructure: 400 kV corridors. GRIDCO evacuation. Industrial clusters served.
Solar resource: 1,800+ kWh/kWp. Best in Eastern India.
Industrial demand: Steel, aluminum, chemicals, data centers. GW-scale expansion through 2030.
Open access solar in Odisha works. But the charges matter. Structure matters. BESS matters.
Request a cost comparison—we'll model your facility, DISCOM, and applicable charges. Solar tariff + wheeling + transmission + CSS (or exemptions). Versus grid. Versus captive. Actual numbers.