The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has notified the draft CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2025.
The draft amendment introduces key changes to streamline connectivity and general network access provisions, focusing on additional generation capacity, shareholding regulations, restricted access mechanisms, and transmission system sharing. As per the guidelines, developers adding generation capacity must provide a bank guarantee and adhere to specified timelines for commercial operation. Connectivity grantees must maintain their shareholding pattern until the commercial operation date, with any change beyond 50 per cent requiring prior approval from the nodal agency. The draft amendment also introduces provisions for restricted connectivity access, allowing renewable energy generating stations (REGS) based on wind energy or energy storage systems to seek connectivity with restricted access during non-solar hours at substations. Connectivity may be availed through either a separate dedicated transmission system or a system allocated to another REGS or renewable power park for solar hours.