ABC RJ Land 01 Private Limited, hereafter referred to as ARLPL, has filed a petition under Section 79 (1) (c) of the Electricity Act, 2003, along with Regulation 42 of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022. ARLPL seeks connectivity from Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) for its project at the Fatehgarh-II pooling sub-station. The petition aims to compel CTUIL to grant connectivity according to the application submitted on December 23, 2021. ARLPL further requests CTUIL to refrain from processing new connectivity applications at Fatehgarh-II until a decision is reached on ARLPL’s petition.
In addition, ARLPL has filed an Interim Application seeking CTUIL’s interim direction to refrain from deciding on fresh connectivity applications at Fatehgarh-II and Fatehgarh-IV until ARLPL’s petition is resolved.
The crux of ARLPL’s petition lies in its initial application to CTUIL on July 8, 2021, for Stage I and Stage II Connectivity at Fatehgarh-II pooling sub-station for a 110 MW solar generation project, later revised to 380 MW in subsequent applications. Despite ARLPL’s efforts, CTUIL proposed granting connectivity at Fatehgarh-IV instead of Fatehgarh-II due to space constraints. ARLPL expressed concerns over the viability of its project if connected to Fatehgarh-IV due to longer transmission lines and unconfirmed project locations. However, CTUIL insisted on connectivity at Fatehgarh-IV.
ARLPL emphasized that projects based on land acquisition cannot easily relocate, unlike those based on Letter of Award (LOA). ARLPL urged prioritizing applications based on land and financial closure over LOA applications, but CTUIL cited regulations for a first-come, first-served approach.
Despite ARLPL’s persistence, CTUIL granted connectivity at Fatehgarh-IV, prompting ARLPL to reluctantly consent while monitoring Fatehgarh-II vacancies. However, CTUIL’s actions prompted ARLPL’s petition due to the acceptance of fresh applications for Fatehgarh-II against previous decisions.
Meetings ensued, with ARLPL advocating for Fatehgarh-II connectivity due to its project’s proximity and financial viability. However, CTUIL delayed decisions pending Government of India Bureau (GIB) clearances, leading to uncertainty for ARLPL’s project.
ARLPL’s representations and requests for Fatehgarh-II connectivity remained unanswered, compelling ARLPL to file the present petition seeking CTUIL’s directive and inclusion in forthcoming meetings. However, CTUIL maintained that ARLPL’s concerns would be addressed in future meetings and allocations.
The Commission’s recent order in related petitions outlined principles for substation allocations in Rajasthan, yet ARLPL’s concerns remain unresolved. Despite ARLPL’s petition, the Commission deemed it premature, advising ARLPL to await CTUIL’s actions before seeking intervention. In conclusion, while ARLPL’s petition aims to secure Fatehgarh-II connectivity, the Commission’s direction urges patience, leaving ARLPL’s concerns unresolved pending future developments.
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