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The National Energy Administration: Special supervision will be conducted on the monopolistic development of distributed photovoltaics, industrial support, and grid connection in 11 provinces.
On August 2, the National Energy Administration issued a notice on the special supervision of the registration and grid connection of distributed photovoltaic systems, intending to supervise the registration, grid connection, and electricity price settlement of distributed photovoltaic systems in 11 provinces.
According to the document, in order to deeply implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, focus on the registration, grid connection, trading, and settlement of distributed photovoltaic systems, strengthen supervision during and after the development and construction of distributed photovoltaic systems, and thoroughly identify problems.
The scope of this supervision includes Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Shaanxi provinces. The supervision period is from January 2023 to June 2024. The main targets of supervision are the registration status of local energy authorities, grid enterprises' connection and trading activities, and distributed photovoltaic development enterprises.
In terms of registration, the focus will be on whether relevant policies have industrial support, restrictions on development, or monopolistic development. It will also verify whether project scale, legal entities, grid connection modes are consistent with registrations. Additionally, for regions conducting assessments of grid connection capacity for distributed photovoltaics, it will check if the registration scale and construction schedule are reasonably arranged based on the assessment results.
In terms of grid connection, the focus will be on the authenticity and accuracy of relevant materials, whether photovoltaic equipment meets requirements, and whether grid connection acceptance and scheduling are completed as required.
In terms of trading, the main supervisory content includes whether electricity purchase and sale contracts are signed in a timely manner; whether the rights and obligations of both parties in electricity trading are clear; whether trading volume, electricity price, settlement methods are clear; whether metering devices are installed according to requirements; whether trading volume measurement is accurate.
In terms of settlement, the main supervisory content includes whether electricity price policies comply with national regulations and purchase-sale contracts; whether billed electricity volume is real and accurate; whether electricity fee settlements are timely; whether settlement methods meet regulatory requirements.
This supervisory action will start deployment in mid-July. Self-inspection and correction will be conducted until the end of August. On-site supervision will take place in September, followed by problem resolution in October to November.
See below:
Notice from the General Office of the National Energy Administration on conducting special supervision on the registration and grid connection progress of distributed photovoltaics
(Guo Neng Zong Tong Xin Neng [2024] No. 107)
North China, Northeast China, Northwest China, East China, Central China, Southern Energy Regulatory Bureaus; Shandong, Zhejiang, Henan, Hunan, Guizhou Energy Regulatory Offices; energy authorities in Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Shandong Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Guizhou Province, Shaanxi Province; relevant power enterprises:
According to the energy regulatory work arrangement for 2024, our bureau has decided to conduct special supervision on the registration and grid connection progress of distributed photovoltaics in some provinces. The relevant matters are notified as follows.
1. Supervision Objectives
Deeply implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and State Council. Focus closely on the overall situation of energy transition development. Concentrate on registration of distributed photovoltaics, grid connection work processes such as trading and settlement. Strengthen supervision during and after development construction to thoroughly identify problems. Propose targeted supervisory opinions and suggestions to further standardize management of distributed photovoltaic development construction. Optimize business environment and improve efficiency in grid connection services to promote high-quality development of distributed photovoltaics.
2. Scope and Targets of Supervision
(1) Scope of Supervision
Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Shandong Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province, Guangdong Province, Guizhou Province, Shaanxi Province; The project development period for supervision is from January 2023 to June 2024. A certain number of projects can be selected for supervision based on actual work conditions.
(2) Targets of Supervision
Supervise local energy authorities at all levels regarding their execution of policies related to registration of distributed photovoltaics; supervise grid enterprises regarding their activities in grid connection for distributed photovoltaics as well as trading and settlement; special supervision may extend to distributed photovoltaic development construction enterprises depending on circumstances.
3. Content of Supervision
The content of supervision mainly includes four aspects: registration of distributed photovoltaics; grid connection; trading; settlement. Relevant provinces can choose key directions for supervision based on actual work conditions.
(1) Registration Work for Distributed Photovoltaics
Main supervisory content includes whether management regulations regarding registration for distributed photovoltaic projects have been formulated and published; whether registrations by distributed photovoltaic development construction enterprises comply with relevant regulations; whether registration workflows have clear responsibilities that are simple and efficient while being made public in a timely manner; whether project registration materials are complete and accurate with clear records that are updated regularly; whether project registration information is reported promptly to relevant units; whether there are additional preconditions for registration; whether actual situations such as project legal entities, construction locations/scales/contents/modes align with registrations; if changes occur whether registration modification procedures are promptly followed; whether there is improper market intervention including forced requirements for supporting industries or restrictions on investment entities' development behaviors or monopolistic practices; for regions conducting assessments on grid connection capacity for distributed photovoltaics whether they reasonably arrange registration scales and construction schedules based on assessment results.
Main basis: "Regulations on Approval and Registration Management for Enterprise Investment Projects" (State Council Order No. 673), "Measures for Approval and Registration Management for Enterprise Investment Projects" (National Development and Reform Commission Order No. 2), "Notice from National Energy Administration on Issuing Interim Measures for Management of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects" (Guo Neng Xin Neng [2013] No. 433), "Notice from General Office of National Energy Administration on Issuing Special Rectification Work Plan for Improper Market Interventions in New Energy Development Fields" (Guo Neng Zong Tong Xin Neng [2023] No. 106), "Notice from General Office National Energy Administration on Issuing Pilot Work Notice for Assessing Grid Connection Capacity for Distributed Photovoltaics" (Guo Neng Zong Tong Xin Neng [2023] No. 74), etc.
(2) Grid Connection Work for Distributed Photovoltaics
Main supervisory content includes checking if application materials related to grid connection are accurate and authentic; if photovoltaic power generation components/inverters meet national certification requirements; if system connection plans comply with national standards/regulations; if acceptance methods for connections have been established according to national standards while ensuring that debugging/acceptance work is conducted according to norms; if agreements regarding grid dispatching have been signed as required; if time limits for handling procedures related to grid connections comply with management requirements regarding fair/open regulation by grids; if regions conducting assessments on grid connection capacity ensure that evaluation work is reasonable/normative while results are disclosed promptly.
Main basis: "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the Interim Measures for the Management of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects" (Guo Neng Xin Neng [2013] No. 433), "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the 'Regulations on Fair and Open Supervision of the Power Grid'" (Guo Neng Fa Jian Guan [2021] No. 49), "Notice of the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the Pilot Work for Assessing the Grid Connection Capacity and Improvement Measures of Distributed Photovoltaic Power" (Guo Neng Zong Tong Xin Neng [2023] No. 74), "Guidelines for Assessing the Grid Connection Capacity of Distributed Power Sources" (DL/T 2041—2019), etc.
(3) Distributed Photovoltaic Trading Work
The main regulatory content includes whether the signing of power purchase and sale contracts is timely; whether the rights and obligations of both parties in the purchase and sale of electricity are clear, and whether the trading volume, electricity price, settlement method, etc., are clear; whether the installation of metering devices meets requirements, and whether the measurement of trading volume is accurate, etc.
Main basis: "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the Interim Measures for the Management of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects" (Guo Neng Xin Neng [2013] No. 433), "Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Issuing 'Management Measures for Full Guarantee Purchase of Renewable Energy Power'" (Fa Gai Neng Yuan [2016] No. 625), "Regulations on Supervision of Full Guarantee Purchase of Renewable Energy Power" (Order No. 15 of the National Development and Reform Commission), "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing 'Management Measures for Electricity Settlement between Power Generation Enterprises and Power Grid Enterprises'" (Guo Neng Fa Jian Guan [2020] No. 79), "Notice of the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration on Further Clarifying Requirements for Electricity Settlement between Power Grid Enterprises and Power Generation Enterprises" (Guo Neng Zong Tong Fa Gai [2022] No. 92), etc.
(4) Distributed Photovoltaic Settlement Work
The main regulatory content includes whether electricity price policies comply with national regulations and power purchase contracts; whether billed electricity volume is real and accurate; whether electricity settlement is timely; whether settlement methods meet normative requirements, etc.
Main basis: "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the Interim Measures for the Management of Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects" (Guo Neng Xin Neng [2013] No. 433), "Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission on Matters Related to New Energy Grid Connection Electricity Price Policy in 2021" (Fa Gai Jia Ge [2021] No. 833), "Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing 'Management Measures for Electricity Settlement between Power Generation Enterprises and Power Grid Enterprises'" (Guo Neng Fa Jian Guan [2020] No. 79), "Notice of the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration on Further Clarifying Requirements for Electricity Settlement between Power Grid Enterprises and Power Generation Enterprises" (Guo Neng Zong Tong Fa Gai [2022] No. 92), etc.
IV. Regulatory Steps
This regulatory work is divided into four phases, as follows:
(1) Launch Deployment (Mid-July)
The National Energy Administration prepares and issues a notice for regulatory work, launching special supervision on the registration and grid connection progress of distributed photovoltaic projects, clarifying regulatory targets, work content, and requirements, and making specific work arrangements.
(2) Self-Inspection and Correction (Mid-July to End-August)
The supervised provincial energy authorities and regulated power grid enterprises shall strictly conduct systematic sorting and self-inspection according to work requirements, promptly rectify any identified issues, and submit self-inspection reports to the New Energy Department of the National Energy Administration by August 30 (power grid enterprises report by provincial companies) while copying local dispatched agencies; a reference format for reports is attached.
(3) On-Site Supervision (September)
The National Energy Administration organizes a regulatory working group to summarize and analyze self-inspection reports submitted by supervised provincial energy authorities and regulated power grid enterprises, select some prominent issues for further on-site supervision, verify relevant situations, with specific work arrangements to be notified separately. Among them, relevant work in Anhui Province and Shandong Province should be fully coordinated with comprehensive supervision.
(4) Problem Handling (Early October to Mid-November)
The National Energy Administration summarizes on-site supervision work situations, in accordance with the 'Regulations on Follow-up Handling after Discovering Problems in Energy Supervision', takes measures such as ordering rectification, conducting interviews for supervision, administrative penalties, etc., to urge rectification based on discovered issues as appropriate, and will timely publish regulatory work situations according to procedures.
V. Relevant Requirements
(1) Enhance Awareness. Relevant provincial energy authorities and power grid enterprises must effectively enhance their awareness, cooperate with regulatory requirements, objectively prepare relevant materials and data accurately, actively cooperate with on-site supervision work. Relevant dispatched agencies should strengthen communication and coordination with on-site supervisory working groups to assist in related work, forming a collaborative effort in regulatory work to improve effectiveness while ensuring effective coordination between special supervision and comprehensive supervision.
(2) Strengthen Self-Inspection and Rectification. Relevant provincial energy authorities and power grid enterprises must seriously carry out self-inspection and rectification work according to regulatory content to ensure organization is in place, responsibilities are clear, and work is executed properly. They should carefully identify gaps in work, focus on solving prominent issues and weak links that exist, timely formulate rectification plans, learn from experience to comprehensively rectify.
(3) Strictly Adhere to Work Discipline. The supervisory working group must strictly implement the spirit of the Central Eight Regulations and their implementation details; accommodation standards must be strictly followed; ensure lawful use of authority with standardized procedures. Relevant provincial energy authorities and power grid enterprises must earnestly accept supervision without interfering with normal regulatory operations.
Contact number: 010-81929523
Attachment: Reference Format for Self-Inspection Report on Registration Progress of Distributed Photovoltaic Projects
Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration
July 17, 2024
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