Petition of the CERC (Procedure, Terms and Conditions for grant of trading license and other related matters), Regulations, 2020 for grant of an inter-state trading licence – EQ

Summary:

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## ⚖️ **Document Overview**

* **Issuing Authority:** *Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), New Delhi*
* **Document Type:** *Record of Proceedings (RoP)*
* **Petition No.:** *778/TD/2025*
* **Date of Hearing:** *23 September 2025*
* **Coram:**

* Shri Jishnu Barua – Chairperson
* Shri Ramesh Babu V. – Member
* Shri Harish Dudani – Member
* Shri Ravinder Singh Dhillon – Member

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## 🏢 **Petitioner**

**Energyminds Power Solutions Private Limited (EPSPL)**
*(A private company applying for power trading license)*

**Represented by:**
Shri Tabrez Malawat, Shri Sayed Hamza, Shri Sourajit Sarkar, and Ms. Rupali Jain, Advocates

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## ⚙️ **Nature of Petition**

The petition was filed under **Sections 14 and 15(1)** of the *Electricity Act, 2003*, read with **Regulation 6** of the *CERC (Procedure, Terms and Conditions for Grant of Trading Licence and Other Related Matters) Regulations, 2020*.

> The petitioner seeks the **grant of an inter-State trading licence (Category-V)** for electricity trading within India.

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## 🧾 **Proceedings Summary**

### **Petitioner’s Submissions**

* EPSPL has filed this application seeking grant of a **Category-V Trading Licence** under the *Trading Licence Regulations, 2020*.
* The petitioner stated that it **meets all eligibility requirements** specified in the 2020 regulations for Category-V, including:

* Minimum net worth and liquidity criteria.
* Professional staffing as required under **Regulation 3(2)**.
* Compliance with legal and financial qualifications for inter-State trading.

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### **Commission’s Observations and Directions**

After hearing the submissions, **CERC directed EPSPL** to submit the following **clarifications on affidavit within one week**:

1. **Undertaking regarding exclusivity of business:**
EPSPL must give a **written undertaking** that it **will not carry out any transmission business** unless it **first surrenders the trading licence**, if granted.

2. **Details of full-time professionals:**
EPSPL must submit a **comprehensive list** of its **full-time professionals**, including:

* Qualifications
* Designations
* Experience details
in compliance with **Regulation 3(2)** of the 2020 Trading Licence Regulations.

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### **Next Steps**

* EPSPL must file the above information **within one week** of the order.
* The petition has been **scheduled for next hearing on 1 October 2025**.

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## 📘 **Legal and Regulatory Context**

### **Relevant Provisions**

* **Section 14, Electricity Act 2003:** Allows the Commission to grant trading licences to eligible entities for inter-State electricity trading.
* **Section 15(1):** Outlines the application process for obtaining such licences.
* **CERC Trading Licence Regulations, 2020:** Defines **five categories (I–V)** of trading licences based on trading volume and financial criteria, with **Category-V** being the **lowest entry-level licence**, allowing limited MW capacity trading.

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## 🧩 **Key Observations**

* EPSPL is seeking **Category-V**, which typically applies to small-scale power traders with **limited trading volume authorization (≤100 million units/year)**.
* The Commission’s emphasis on professional staff and exclusivity of business indicates its focus on ensuring **compliance and capability** even at the entry level.
* The next hearing (1 October 2025) will likely consider **grant or rejection of the licence** after the affidavit review.

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