Open access solar for C&I consumers: the 2026 playbook

For commercial and industrial consumers paying ₹8–11/kWh, open-access renewable supply is the single largest cost lever available today — often worth 25–40% off the landed cost of power.

The two dominant structures Third-party open access means buying from an independent generator under a PPA, paying wheeling, transmission and cross-subsidy charges to move the power. Group captive means owning at least 26% equity in the generating plant and consuming at least 51% of its output — which, under current rules, waives the cross-subsidy surcharge entirely in most states.

Where the savings come from The generation cost of utility-scale solar is now ₹2.5–3.5/kWh. Even after open-access charges, the landed cost typically sits ₹2–4/kWh below the grid tariff. Add banking provisions where available, and the effective discount grows.

What to watch State regulations differ sharply on banking, charge trajectories and eligibility thresholds — and they change. A contract that pencils today can erode if cross-subsidy surcharge waivers narrow. This is why tenure, change-in-law clauses and exit provisions matter as much as the headline tariff.

Getting started The sequence that works: interval load study, state-regulation screening, structure selection (third-party vs group captive), generator shortlisting, then PPA negotiation. Done in that order, most eligible consumers reach contract signature in one quarter. Our PPA desk runs this end-to-end — from feasibility through open-access approvals.