GERC Refines Consultant Selection Framework To Strengthen Gujarat’s Resource Adequacy Planning

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has issued important amendments and clarifications to its Request for Proposal (RfP) for hiring a consultant to support the Resource Adequacy (RA) Framework. This initiative is aimed at helping the state’s power utilities plan effectively to meet future electricity demand through long-term, medium-term, and short-term strategies.

One of the key changes is related to the milestone and payment structure for Assignments 2 and 3. The work has now been divided into six clear phases to ensure better tracking and delivery. The first phase, called “Data Inception & Framework,” carries a payment weight of 10 percent, while the final phase, “Final Approval & Closure,” accounts for 20 percent. Between these stages, the consultant will be required to complete tasks such as preparing standard data formats, identifying and validating data gaps from utilities, and building a detailed Energy Model. This model is expected to support both utility-level and state-level analysis, making planning more accurate and efficient.

GERC has also revised the eligibility criteria to allow wider participation while maintaining quality standards. Interested companies must have at least 10 years of business experience in India and should have worked for a similar duration as consultants with electricity regulators or power utilities. In addition, bidders must show a minimum annual turnover of INR 5 crore and maintain a positive net worth for the last three financial years. To avoid any conflict of interest, companies that have already helped Gujarat Distribution Licensees in preparing Resource Adequacy plans are not allowed to participate. However, firms that have worked with the State Transmission Utility (STU) or State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) are still eligible.

In response to queries from industry participants, GERC has provided clarity on technical requirements. Consultants are allowed to use either open-source or commercial energy modeling tools, as long as these tools are recognized by agencies like the Central Electricity Authority. The responsibility of bearing any software licensing costs will lie with the selected bidder. While the consultant will provide technical inputs and recommendations, GERC has clearly stated that all final decisions regarding regulations and approvals will remain with the Commission.

The regulator has also addressed legal and administrative conditions. A liability cap has been introduced, limiting the consultant’s total liability to the overall contract value. However, exceptions will apply in cases involving confidentiality breaches, fraud, willful misconduct, or intellectual property violations. GERC has also maintained strict conditions on participation, stating that joint ventures and consortiums will not be allowed. Additionally, all key resource persons proposed in the bid must be on the company’s payroll at the time of submission to ensure accountability and continuity.

The final deadline for submitting bids has been fixed as April 15, 2026, giving interested firms a limited window to respond to the updated requirements.