PSERC Introduces 12th Amendment With Penalty Provisions For Open Access Overuse In Punjab

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has issued a draft notification proposing the 12th amendment to the existing intra-state open access regulations of 2011. These regulations aim to regulate the use of the electricity grid by open-access customers within the state. The new draft introduces several important changes to manage the over-utilization of electricity capacity and maintain system efficiency.

One of the key additions is related to transmission charges. A new clause states that any open access customer who uses more intra-state open access capacity than what has been allowed under Long Term Access, Medium Term Open Access, or Short Term Open Access will now be required to pay a penalty. This penalty is calculated as 125% of the applicable transmission charges for the excess usage in megawatts (MW). This is meant to discourage overuse and ensure fair usage of the state’s transmission system.

Another major change deals with scheduling and system operation charges. A new clause specifies that in addition to regular scheduling charges, customers who overuse their allowed capacity will also need to pay 125% of the applicable State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) operating charges. This is applied to the same excess capacity and calculated using the new transmission deviation charge rule. The purpose is to recover costs incurred due to unexpected load on the system and encourage proper planning and scheduling by open-access users.

The amendment also adds a provision concerning wheeling charges. Customers who are fully connected to the distribution system and use more capacity than permitted will now be required to pay 125% of the applicable wheeling charges on the excess quantum. This change ensures that distribution infrastructure is used responsibly and that customers do not exceed their agreed limits without incurring additional costs.

Lastly, the amendment changes the rules for the use of banked energy. As per the new proposal, customers will not be allowed to draw banked energy during peak seasonal periods or peak load hours. These periods will be defined by the Commission each year in the respective Tariff Order or through a separate directive. This aims to maintain grid stability during high-demand times by limiting non-scheduled energy withdrawals.

These amendments are intended to make open-access operations more efficient and responsible. They also provide a framework to penalize overuse, protect grid reliability, and ensure that all users contribute fairly to the system’s costs. The new rules will take effect from the date of their official notification.