Petition of the CERC (Conduct of Business) (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) and (Indian Electricity Grid Code) Regulation for Wind Power Project – EQ

Summary:

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## 1. Case Overview

| Parameter | Detail |
|———–|——–|
| **Petitioner** | Continuum Power Trading (TN) Private Limited (CPTPL) |
| **Respondent** | Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) |
| **Petition Reference** | Regulation 22(3)(c) of the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC), 2023 |
| **Relief Sought** | Permission to commission Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) in **tranches of at least 5 MW** per phase |
| **Project Capacity** | 36 MW Wind Power Project |
| **Date of Hearing** | 7 April 2026 |
| **Next Hearing Date** | **26 May 2026** |

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## 2. Regulatory Context

The petition invokes multiple regulations:

– **CERC (Conduct of Business) Regulations, 1999** – Regulation 15
– **CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to ISTS) Regulations, 2022** – Regulations 42 & 44
– **CERC (Indian Electricity Grid Code) Regulations, 2023** – Regulations 57 & 58
– **Specific relaxation sought** – **Regulation 22(3)(c) of IEGC, 2023**

### What Regulation 22(3)(c) likely prescribes (standard grid code provision):
Typically, such provisions require **minimum block size for commissioning** (often 10 MW or higher) to ensure grid stability and avoid fragmentation. CPTPL is seeking to reduce this to **5 MW tranches**.

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## 3. Business Rationale for the Petition

| Driver | Explanation |
|——–|————-|
| **Phased commissioning** | WTGs become technically ready at different times; waiting for full 36 MW delays revenue |
| **ISTS charges waiver sunset** | Waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for solar/wind projects is available only **until 30 June 2026** |
| **Urgency** | Petitioner requested hearing in **May 2026** to secure relaxation before waiver deadline |
| **Cash flow optimization** | Earlier partial commissioning = earlier power sale = earlier revenue |

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## 4. Commission’s Order (Dated 7 April 2026)

The CERC ordered as follows:

| Order | Detail |
|——-|——–|
| **Admission** | Petition admitted, “subject to just exceptions” |
| **Notice** | Issue notice to Respondent (CTUIL) |
| **Next Hearing** | **26 May 2026** |

> ✅ The Commission has **not granted the relaxation yet** – only admitted the petition and scheduled a hearing.

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## 5. Strategic Implications for Wind Power Developers

### ✅ If relaxation is granted:
– **Lower commissioning threshold (5 MW)** allows faster partial COD
– **Eligibility for ISTS waiver** on each tranche commissioned before 30 June 2026
– **Better project financing** – lenders prefer phased revenue streams
– **Reduced grid integration risk** – smaller blocks easier to absorb

### ⚠️ Risks / Counterpoints (from CTUIL or CERC perspective):
– **Grid stability** – smaller, frequent injections may require more reactive power management
– **Precedent setting** – other developers may seek similar relaxation
– **ISTS waiver policy intent** – originally meant for full projects, not phased commissioning

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