The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued the draft CERC (Indian Electricity Grid Code) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026, proposing changes to trial run requirements, scheduling of infirm power, and transmission congestion management.
The draft proposes that standalone energy storage systems (ESS) generally undertake trial runs for a minimum capacity of 50 MW. However, standalone ESS below 50 MW covered under specified General Network Access provisions can conduct trial runs for the capacity for which connectivity has been granted. In addition, ESS projects of 250 MW and above can conduct trial runs in instalments of at least 50 MW without a limit on the number of instalments. It also proposes separate trial run provisions for pumped storage plants. Further, the draft provides for scheduling of infirm power before commercial operation only after successful completion of the trial run. Where a contract does not specify the treatment of such scheduling, the power would first be offered to contracted buyers with at least seven days’ advance notice. For grid management, the draft proposes congestion charges when power flows exceed total transfer capability, following a warning when flows cross available transfer capability. It also proposes restrictions on grid access for entities defaulting on statutory charges such as deviation settlement mechanism, congestion and reactive energy charges.