LUCKNOW: In a significant relief to power developers facing prolonged delays in securing access to the national electricity transmission network, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has introduced provisions allowing them to surrender their entire grid connectivity allocation and recover bank guarantees under specified conditions.The changes are part of the CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, notified on November 11. The regulations will come into effect upon their publication in the Official Gazette.Under the new provisions, developers can surrender their entire connectivity allocation if the gap between preliminary and final approvals is two years or more, or if the scheduled connectivity date is delayed by at least two years.Developers must apply for withdrawal within 45 days of receiving final approval. Those who are still awaiting final approval after two years can also seek withdrawal within 45 days of completing that period.The nodal agency must process such requests within 15 days. If approved, the developers’ bank guarantees will be returned, although the application fee will be forfeited.The Commission has also introduced measures to improve the utilisation of existing transmission infrastructure.Renewable energy and battery storage projects with a capacity of at least 50 megawatts can seek grid access during non-solar hours, subject to the availability of capacity. The Central Transmission Utility must publish and update the available capacity at eligible substations every month.Another provision allows eligible electricity consumers to maintain connections with both the national transmission network and state-level networks, subject to the necessary approvals and applicable charges.The regulations also provide for the faster release of certain bank guarantees after projects complete one year of commercial operation, replacing the earlier five-year phased release mechanism.“These changes are intended to provide greater flexibility to developers and improve utilisation of transmission infrastructure,” said the official source.CERC accepts three key suggestions from UP consumer bodyThree key recommendations made by the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad have been incorporated into the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (CERC) amended regulations notified on November 11.Consumer body chairman Avadhesh Kumar Verma said the organisation had submitted eight suggestions on June 8.The three provisions include the introduction of a one-time network access charge of Rs 1 lakh per MW to reduce monthly transmission costs, allowing developers to surrender unused connectivity after delays of two years or more under specified conditions, and requiring the monthly publication of available transmission capacity at substations during non-solar hours.Verma said these measures would help protect consumer interests.
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