GERC Reviews 25 MW Hybrid Project’s Plea For Extension And Temporary Use Of 220 kV Bay

M/s OPWIND Energy Pvt. Ltd. filed a petition before the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) seeking an extension of time for the construction of power evacuation infrastructure and the temporary use of a spare 220 kV bay at the Kalavad sub-station. The company is setting up a 25 MW wind-solar hybrid power project and wants to use the spare bay until December 31, 2025. The company argued that the delay in infrastructure work requires more time and that permission to use the existing infrastructure temporarily would help them proceed with commissioning.

The petition was filed under Section 86 (1)(c), (e), and (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, along with relevant regulations under the GERC (Conduct of Business) Regulations, 2004. OPWIND also filed an Interlocutory Application under Section 94(2) of the Electricity Act, seeking an interim stay and injunction against a letter issued by the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) on February 18, 2025, which may have restricted their access to infrastructure at the Kalavad sub-station.

The petitioner referred to an earlier order by the Commission in a similar case involving M/s Morjar Renewables Pvt. Ltd., where temporary use of infrastructure was allowed. Based on this, OPWIND requested the Commission to provide similar relief and also sought one week to file a rejoinder to GETCO’s reply.

GETCO, represented by its legal counsel, stated that it had already filed its reply and objected to the petitioner’s request for temporary use of the 220 kV bay. GETCO argued that OPWIND Energy has no vested rights to use the infrastructure and hence the bay cannot be granted for use without formal allocation or completion of necessary construction. However, GETCO did not object to the admission of the petition itself and agreed that the matter could be scheduled for the last week of June 2025.

After hearing both sides, the Commission noted that GETCO’s reply had been submitted and the petitioner was given time to submit its rejoinder within a week. The Commission directed both parties to complete all pleadings before the next hearing date. The matter has now been scheduled for further hearing on June 26, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. Both parties agreed on the hearing date.

The Commission has not passed any interim relief or final decision in this hearing but ensured that procedural fairness is maintained. The case will now move forward after the parties complete their respective submissions, and a decision will be made based on the arguments presented in the next hearing.