The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) was recently reprimanded by the state’s electricity commission (UPERC) for a delay in filing its petition to adopt a tariff for 439 MW of wind projects. Further, UPERC came down on the state load despatch center (UPSLDC) for scheduling power for these projects without any approval.

The issue relates to a petition that was filed by the UPPCL for accepting the delay in the adoption of a tariff, approval of power sale agreement (PSA), and power procurement for these projects. The PSA for the projects was signed in 2017, and the projects were commissioned in 2018.

Now, in its latest hearing on October 10, 2019, the UPERC has issued a notice to the UPSLDC for acting in violation of the grid code and the Electricity Act 2003.

In the recent hearings, the council on behalf of the petitioners (UPPCL) had expressed regret for not approaching the commission for timely adoption of the tariff. Furthermore, they also requested the commission to allow UPPCL to file a confidential report.

In its latest order, the state commission has given UPPCL two weeks to file a report citing the action taken against the responsible parties.

Also, UPPCL and Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC) had requested the UPERC to allow the withdrawal of a tariff adoption petition for one of the wind projects. The withdrawal would allow the petitioners to now approach the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) for tariff adoption since the projects would supply power to multiple states. For this, the UPERC has granted its permission to UPPCL and PTC to withdraw the petition and approach the central commission, respectively.

Last month, the UPERC issued draft regulations for captive and renewable energy generating projects in the state. The main objective of these regulations is to promote the generation of electricity from renewable sources, facilitate connectivity of renewable power projects with the grid, and ensure the sale of electricity to any person.

Shaurya is a staff reporter at MercomIndia.com with experience working in the Indian solar energy industry for the past four years in various roles. Prior to joining Mercom, Shaurya worked with a renewable energy developer and a consulting company. Shaurya holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.