Petition with the CERC (Procedure, Terms and Conditions for Grant of Transmission License and other related matters) Regulations for Ratle Kiru Power Transmission Ltd – EQ
Summary:
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#### **1. Background & Petitioner**
* **Petitioner:** **Ratle Kiru Power Transmission Limited (RKPTL)**
* **Purpose:** The petition sought the grant of an **inter-state transmission license** under the Electricity Act, 2003.
* **Project:** To implement the **”Transmission scheme for evacuation of power from Ratle HEP (850 MW) & Kiru HEP (624 MW): Part-A”** on a **Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT)** basis.
#### **2. The Transmission Project (Scope)**
The project involves a complex series of upgrades and new elements to evacuate power from two large hydroelectric projects in Jammu & Kashmir. Key components include:
* **LILO (Loop-in-Loop-out)** of existing 400 kV lines at the new **Kishtwar substation**.
* Construction of new **400 kV transmission lines** (Quad and Twin Moose configurations) to create more direct and efficient evacuation routes:
* Kishenpur-Samba
* Kishtwar-Samba (via bypass at Kishenpur)
* Kishenpur-Jalandhar (via bypass at Samba)
* Samba-Nakodar (via bypass at Jalandhar)
* Installation of **switchable line reactors** at Samba and Jalandhar substations for voltage control.
* **Key Partners:** The project requires space and coordination with existing transmission utilities like **POWERGRID** and **Sterlite** for bay and reactor placement.
#### **3. Competitive Bidding & Selection**
* The project was awarded through a **tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB)** process conducted by **REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL)**.
* **IndiGrid 2 Private Limited** was declared the successful bidder with the **lowest quoted annual transmission charge of ₹1952.32 million**.
#### **4. CERC Process & Decision**
* **Prima Facie Approval:** On August 2, 2025, CERC, after reviewing the application, prima facie agreed to grant the license and directed a **public notice** to be issued to invite objections.
* **Public Notice:** Published in *Hindustan Times* (English) and *Hindustan* (Hindi) on August 8, 2025. **No objections** were received from the public.
* **Final Hearing:** A hearing was held on August 19, 2025. With no objections and a positive recommendation from the **Central Transmission Utility (CTUIL)**, CEC approved the grant of the license.
#### **5. Grant of License & Key Conditions**
CERC granted the transmission license to RKPTL, subject to stringent conditions, including:
* **License Validity:** **25 years** from the date of issue.
* **Compliance:** Must comply with all provisions of the **Electricity Act, 2003**, the **CERC Transmission Licence Regulations, 2024**, and all other relevant regulations (Grid Code, Open Access, Sharing of Charges, etc.).
* **Exclusive Business:** The licensee **cannot engage in electricity trading** during the license period.
* **Open Access:** Must provide **non-discriminatory open access** to its transmission system.
* **License Fee:** Must pay license fees as per CERC regulations; delay beyond 60 days is a breach of license terms.
* **Execution:** The EPC contract for the project **must be awarded through competitive bidding**. The project must be executed as per CEA’s technical and grid standards.
* **Monitoring:** Execution will be monitored by **CTUIL/Independent Engineer** and the **Central Electricity Authority (CEA)**.
#### **6. Expected Commissioning**
The project has a **Scheduled Commissioning Date (COD)** of **24 months** from the SPV transfer date (i.e., by **March 24, 2027**).
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