CERC Draft Amendment Proposes 'Restricted Access' for REGS and Energy Storage

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022.

This notification, titled the Fourth Amendment Regulations, 2025, introduces new definitions under Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations. A new clause (q-i), 'Entities with Restricted Access,' has been added, referring to Renewable Energy Generating Stations (REGS) or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) whose injection scheduling rights are restricted to either solar hours or non-solar hours as per Regulation 5.11 and Annexure-IV.

Similarly, a new clause (ai-i) 'Restricted Access' defines restricted scheduling rights for entities covered under Regulation 5.11. Additional definitions such as (ak-i) 'Solar Hours' and (ak-ii) 'Non-Solar Hours' have also been incorporated, where solar hours are time blocks declared weekly by NLDC based on anticipated solar insolation, and non-solar hours are the remaining time blocks of the day.

'Restricted Access' means restricted scheduling rights for solar hours or non-solar hours of the day for entities covered under Regulation 5.11 of these Regulations," says the draft.

Under this provision, wind-based REGS or ESS may apply for connectivity with restricted access for non-solar hours at ISTS substations. Such connectivity may be granted through a separate dedicated transmission system or by utilising infrastructure allocated to another REGS or Renewable Power Park with restricted access for solar hours. This regulation ensures efficient utilisation of transmission infrastructure by accommodating complementary renewable energy sources.

Giving an example, the draft says, "An REGS (Wind - 400 MW, ESS - 200 MW) may seek a connectivity of 600 MW with restricted access rights, where injection scheduling rights during solar hours shall be Nil."

Furthermore, any solar-based REGS or Renewable Hybrid Generating Station (RHGS) with prior connectivity approval will be automatically classified as an entity with restricted access after three months of the amendment’s enforcement, unless it applies for additional capacity. However, if the available non-solar hours capacity is less than 50 MW, the entity will not be converted to restricted access.

This regulation also applies to new applicants seeking connectivity under Regulation 4.1, ensuring that solar-based REGS or RHGS with solar and other sources (including ESS) are granted restricted access connectivity. For example, an RHGS with 700 MW solar, 400 MW wind, and 200 MW ESS, seeking 1000 MW connectivity; this would be granted restricted access rights, allowing 1000 MW injection during solar hours and 600 MW (400 MW wind + 200 MW ESS) during non-solar hours.

A new Regulation 5.2a has been introduced to address additional generation capacity. Entities seeking additional capacity must furnish Connectivity Bank Guarantees (Conn-BG1 and Conn-BG3) as per Regulation 8. The scheduled date of commercial operation (COD) must be declared at the time of application, and for REGS or ESS (excluding PSPs), the COD shall not be later than 18 months from the date of approval by the Nodal Agency.

Existing grantees who have received approval before this amendment’s effective date must provide the scheduled COD within two weeks of the amendment’s enforcement. Failure to comply with the required formalities within one month may lead to revocation of the additional generation capacity approval.

Amendments have also been made to Regulation 5.8, adding a new sub-clause (d) that requires Renewable Power Park Developers to furnish the COD of the generating station before obtaining final connectivity. Additionally, Regulation 5.8(xii) now mandates the disclosure of promoters' details and their shareholding pattern.

The Fourth Amendment Regulations, 2025, aim to enhance grid management by integrating solar and non-solar renewable sources while optimising transmission system usage.