The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) recently issued an order regarding a petition filed by POWERGRID Bhadla III Transmission Limited (PBTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. The petition sought the grant of a separate transmission license under Section 14 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and the applicable CERC regulations for implementing a specific transmission project. This project involves the installation of a 400 kV line bay at the 765/400/220 kV Bhadla-III Power Station to facilitate the interconnection of ReNew Solar (Shakti Six) Pvt. Ltd.
The transmission scheme falls under the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) mode, with an estimated project cost of ₹13.37 crores and a completion deadline of March 31, 2026. This initiative is part of the broader plan for power evacuation from renewable energy zones in Rajasthan. Previously, the CERC had granted a transmission license to PBTL for another segment of the transmission system under the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) route.
CTUIL, the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited, issued an Office Memorandum in June 2024, designating PBTL as the responsible entity for executing the project under RTM mode. The project was also discussed and approved in the 23rd Consultation Meeting of the Northern Region held in August 2023. The consultation determined that the expected connectivity date under the General Network Access (GNA) framework would be December 31, 2025, aligning with the planned commissioning of the renewable energy project.
As part of the regulatory process, the Commission issued a public notice in January 2025 inviting objections and suggestions on the license grant. However, no objections were received. During a subsequent hearing, the petitioner highlighted a three-month mismatch in the project’s implementation timeline concerning the associated generation facility. Given that CTUIL itself had awarded the project under RTM, the petitioner requested alignment of the implementation schedule with the generation project’s commissioning timeline.
CERC, after reviewing the submission, granted the transmission license to PBTL, stipulating several conditions for compliance. The license remains valid for 25 years, with the possibility of renewal two years before expiration. The conditions include adherence to the Transmission Licence Regulations, non-engagement in electricity trading, timely payment of license fees, and compliance with grid codes and performance standards. Additionally, PBTL must provide non-discriminatory open access to its transmission system for other entities and conduct all engineering, procurement, and construction activities through competitive bidding.
CTUIL and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) were directed to monitor project execution, ensuring adherence to technical and regulatory standards. Furthermore, CERC expressed displeasure over CTUIL’s delayed submission of information regarding the associated generation project and instructed it to synchronize the implementation schedule with the project’s commissioning.
The order also touched upon the requirement for government approval of transmission projects under ₹100 crores, as outlined in the Transmission System Planning Rules, 2021. CTUIL had approached the Ministry of Power for clarification but had not yet received a response. To prevent project delays, CERC proceeded with the license grant while awaiting further input from the Ministry.
This decision facilitates the timely development of transmission infrastructure crucial for integrating renewable energy projects into the national grid. It underscores the regulatory framework’s role in ensuring systematic planning, transparent execution, and operational efficiency in India’s evolving power sector.
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