TGERC Amends Open Access Rules, Shifts REC Eligibility To Renewable Power Generators In Telangana

The Telangana Electricity Regulatory Commission (TGERC) has notified the First Amendment Regulation, 2026, to its existing Terms and Conditions of Open Access Regulations that were originally issued in 2024. The amendment, numbered Regulation No. 2 of 2026, was finalized on January 24, 2026, and focuses mainly on improving clarity and consistency in the implementation of Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) in Telangana.

The need for this amendment arose after concerns were raised about the treatment of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) linked to unutilized banked energy under the GEOA framework. In the earlier 2024 regulations, GEOA consumers were eligible to receive RECs for surplus energy that remained unutilized after banking. However, subsequent clarifications issued by the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), along with representations from the Telangana State Load Despatch Centre (TGSLDC), highlighted that this approach was not fully aligned with the national REC framework. As a result, the Commission decided to bring the state regulations in line with the “CERC Procedure for Implementation of REC Mechanism, 2024”.

One of the key changes introduced through this amendment relates to the eligibility for RECs. As per the revised Clause 33.5, Renewable Energy Certificates for unutilized banked energy will now be issued to the Renewable Energy Generating Station instead of the GEOA consumer. This change ensures that the generator of renewable power receives recognition for the surplus green energy injected into the grid but not consumed.

The amendment also introduces an important clarification regarding the period between the grant of Green Energy Open Access and the execution of the wheeling agreement. Under the modified Clause 14.11, any energy injected into the licensee’s network during this interim period will be treated as “inadvertent power”. For such energy, the applicant will not be entitled to receive any payment towards energy charges.

The regulation applies across the entire state of Telangana and will come into effect from the date of its publication in the Telangana Gazette. Through this amendment, the Commission aims to remove ambiguities, improve regulatory certainty, and ensure that Telangana’s open access and renewable energy framework remains consistent with national grid and REC guidelines.