Chhattisgarh Regulator Grants Dedicated Feeder Exemption For Captive Solar Power Use

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has approved a petition filed by M/s Adit Ispaat, a casting manufacturer based in Bhilai, seeking exemption from the requirement of having a dedicated feeder to draw solar power for its captive plant. The order was issued on February 26, 2026, under the provisions of the CSERC (Connectivity and Intra-State Open Access) Regulations, 2011.

M/s Adit Ispaat operates its manufacturing unit in the Light Industrial Area of Bhilai with a contract demand of 1200 KVA. The unit currently receives electricity through a 33 KV feeder from the 132 KV Chhawani substation. To reduce its dependence on conventional power and promote renewable energy use, the company set up a 1.50 MW (AC) solar PV power plant at Village Khambat in Balod district. The solar plant was commissioned in January 2026 and is permitted to evacuate power through a dedicated feeder at the injection point.

However, the company informed the Commission that installing a separate dedicated feeder at the drawal point was not practical because the actual solar power drawal would be very small. It requested relaxation from this requirement and expressed willingness to install all necessary metering and communication systems as directed by the authorities.

As per existing rules, open access consumers are generally required to have dedicated feeders along with online data communication systems connected to the State Load Despatch Centre. Still, the Commission has the authority to grant exemptions to bulk consumers in specific cases, subject to technical and operational safeguards.

The respondents in the matter, Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) and Chhattisgarh State Power Transmission Company Limited (CSPTCL), did not object to the request. They proposed that the company must install ABT meters with AMR facilities and a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) for real-time data communication. They also required a written undertaking stating that the company would not claim compensation for power interruptions, maintenance activities, or shutdowns of the common feeder.

CSPTCL confirmed that transmission of power from the solar plant’s injection point at Khambat substation to the drawal point at Chhawani substation is technically feasible. After reviewing all submissions, the Commission allowed the exemption, subject to strict compliance with all technical and safety conditions to ensure grid stability and reliable power supply.