In recent independent orders, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has granted interim transmission licence to five ISTS-TBCB schemes.
In its orders, CERC said that these five schemes have qualified for grant of transmission licence but the final licence will be granted subject to response to the public notices that these five developers will need to publish.
These public notices will seek suggestions or objections from the general public in the matter of grant of transmission licence. These five developers, as per the normal practice, will need to place before CERC any objections/suggestions received.
CERC will take up the matter for hearing in a subsequent meeting.
The five ISTS-TBCB schemes in question are:
ISTS Scheme: Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-IV (Part-2: 5.5 GW) (Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex): Part E
Project SPV: Rajasthan IV E Power Transmission Ltd
Developer (TSP): Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd
Tariff: Rs.2,521.10 million per year
Date of next CERC hearing: December 16, 2024
ISTS Scheme: Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-IV (Part-2: 5.5 GW) (Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex): Part A
Project SPV: Rajasthan IV A Power Transmission Ltd
Developer (TSP): Apraava Energy Pvt Ltd
Tariff: Rs.1,845.42 million per year
Date of next CERC hearing: December 26, 2024
ISTS Scheme: Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-IV (Part-2: 5.5 GW) (Jaisalmer/Barmer Complex): Part D
Project SPV: Beawar-Mandsaur Transmission Ltd
Developer (TSP): Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd
Tariff: Rs.1,819.81 million per year
Date of next CERC hearing: December 26, 2024
ISTS Scheme: Transmission system for evacuation of power from potential renewable energy zone in Khavda area of Gujarat under Phase-IV (7 GW): Part C
Project SPV: Khavda IV C Power Transmission Ltd
Developer (TSP): Sterlite Power
Tariff: Rs.13,148.08 million per year (See related story)
Date of next CERC hearing: December 26, 2024
ISTS Scheme: Transmission scheme for integration of Tumkur-II REZ in Karnataka
Project SPV: Tumkur-II REZ Power Transmission Ltd
Developer (TSP): G R Infraprojects Ltd
Tariff: Rs.537.70 million per year
Date of next CERC hearing: December 16, 2024
Significance of transmission licence
The grant of transmission licence by CERC is a critical element in any ISTS scheme, whether awarded under the RTM or TBCB modality. Developers (transmission service providers) of ISTS schemes can start commercial operations of their respective transmission scheme only after securing final transmission licence from CERC. For ISTS-TBCB projects in particular, there is also a legal routine of CERC adopting and approving transmission charges. This signifies that CERC has approved the tariff quoted by the winning developer during the tariff-based competitive bidding process carried out by the bid process coordinator. The adoption of tariff is subject to grant of final transmission licence by CERC.