The Grid Controller of India (Grid-India) has proposed changes to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission‘s (CERC) draft procedure for the grant of temporary general network access (T-GNA) to the interstate transmission system.

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Grid India has proposed to mandate an adequate margin in the transmission system to enable the scheduling of power projects up to their full T-GNA capacity.

The amendment also proposes that entities registered with the national open access registry (NOAR) for short-term open access approval are no longer exempted from registering with the regional load dispatch centers (RLDC) of their respective state for T-GNA approval.

It also proposes to mandate an adequate margin in the transmission system to enable the scheduling of power projects up to their full capacity for which GNA has been granted.

Bi-Monthly Standing Clearance

In cases where GNA has not yet become effective, RLDC will identify generating stations that have sought approval of deemed T-GNA and provide standing clearance on a bi-monthly basis.

The RLDC will grant the clearance for T-GNA based on the availability of margin in the transmission system.

When allocating transmission margins under T-GNA, renewable energy projects connected to a pooling station via deemed T-GNA will be treated on par with those with GNA and where the GNA is yet to become effective at the same pooling station.

Under the bi-monthly clearance system, applicants seeking standing clearance for a deemed T-GNA between the 1st and 15th of the month must apply within 24 hours of the 25th day of the previous month.

Such applications will be received on a pro-rata basis, and permission will be granted based on available transmission capacity. If applications are received after the 25th of the previous month, they will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Under the same system for seeking standing clearance for the 16th to the end of the month, applications must be filed within the 10th day of the current month. In such cases, the applications are processed on a pro-rata basis based on the availability of transmission margin. Applications received after the 10th day of next month will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the case of hybrid power generators with or without energy storage systems, standing clearance can be granted for the individual power generator up to their respective installed capacity. The generators must ensure the project’s scheduling remains within the connectivity quantum.

Any entity that has been granted T-GNA for renewable energy projects (T-GNARE) can convert it into a T-GNA by submitting an application to the nodal RLDC. It can also initiate power delivery only after four months from the application date.

Calculation of Margin

 For the calculation of the margin of transactions under the advance bilateral category, the amendment proposes the following formula for calculating export T-GNA margin:

Export T-GNA margin = Export Available Transfer Capacity –(A% export PPA quantum + approved advance T-GNA

Where ‘A’ factor is determined by the NLDC from time to time, based on renewable energy variability and other system exigencies.

Here, the quantum under PPA will be obtained from the contract information furnished by the entities to RLDCs while scheduling under GNA and T-GNA applications.

Operation Charges

The applicant for bilateral and collective T-GNA must pay operating charges to the host RLDC, along with payment of ISTS charges. These operating charges must be submitted in compliance with the timeline for ISTS charges. Any applicant who fails to pay the operating charges within the timelines will be blocked through the NOAR.

If the applicant for T-GNA or T-GNARE projects fails to pay operating charges within the stipulated time, the approved transmission margin will be rejected. The margin of transmission released will be scheduled for other GNA and T-GNA/T-GNARE applications.

For advance T-GNA or exigency T-GNA under bilateral transaction, the applicant must pay operating charges to the host RLDC at the rate of ₹1,000 (~$11.3)/day.

A regional entity that already pays RLDC charges for the installed capacity under the RLDC Fees and Charges Regulations is exempt from paying operating charges for T-GNA for the same installed capacity.

For collective transactions, each successful buyer and seller must pay NLDC operating charges to the respective power exchange, based on the energy scheduled by NLDC, at the rate of ₹1 (~$0.01)/MWh, and subject to a maximum of ₹200 (~$2.26) per day.

Each successful buyer must pay operating charges for T-GNA under collective transactions for drawal schedules exceeding the GNA quantum, the T-GNA quantum, or both.

To determine whether the drawal schedule exceeded the GNA quantum, T-GNA quantum, or both in the case of a collective transaction, the SLDC will furnish to NLDC each intrastate entity-wise detail of schedules under GNA or T-GNA, as applicable, by 1400 hours of the next day of delivery. The intrastate entity-wise detail of schedules must be transferred through the NOAR.

Upon receiving this information, NLDC will issue a power exchange-wise and entity-wise segregation of payable operating charges by 1700 hours on the next day of delivery.

The payable operating charges will be allocated to the power exchanges in the ratio of requisition by the entity in the respective exchange for the day.

If the NLDC does not receive the information from SLDC by 1400 hours of the next day of delivery, it must issue operating charges by 1700 hours of the next day of delivery.

NOAR will notify the operating charges for T-GNA under collective transactions at 1700 hours on the next day, and payments of operating charges will be made by the exchanges to NLDC by 2400 hours on the next day.

Operating charges will also apply to the scheduling of power from an alternate source by a generating station in accordance with the Indian Electricity Grid Code.

In cases where Advance T-GNA or T-GNARE for more than one month in advance is scheduled to start within the next three working days, the transmission charges for the first month must be deposited by 04:00 hours of the day prior to the scheduling of the transaction under T-GNA/T-GNARE approval.

The transmission charges for subsequent months will be paid by 24:00 hours, two days before the last day of the current month, for transactions in the next month on a rolling basis.

Failure to comply with this schedule will also result in the defaulting applicant being auto-blocked through NOAR.

In the event of power curtailment, transmission constraints, or revisions to transactions from the previous month, the nodal agency will refund operating and ISTS charges to concerned applicants, including power exchanges, by the 15th day of the following month. In case no discrepancy is reported within 15 days from the date of issue of the reconciliation statement, the statement will be deemed reconciled.

Recently, CERC notified the Connectivity and GNA to the Interstate Transmission System (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2025. The new rules modify several aspects of the Principal Regulations of 2022, introducing expanded definitions, revised procedures for application withdrawals, restructuring of bank guarantee requirements, rules for connectivity to ISTS substations, and detailed compliance obligations for renewable generating stations and energy storage systems.

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