The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has notified the third amendment to the Connectivity and General Network Access (GNA) regulations for the inter-state transmission system (ISTS), introducing detailed procedural and structural reforms.
The amendments define new terms such as “cluster of ISTS substations,” “solar hour access,” and “non-solar hour access,” and enable differentiated access rights for renewable projects based on solar and non-solar generation hours. The key changes include new provisions for reallocation of vacant terminal bay capacities within ISTS clusters, new clauses allowing change in renewable source for connectivity, and fresh compliance norms on land and financial closure documentation. The amendment revises treatment of bank guarantees, withdrawal of applications, and expands eligibility for connectivity to smaller generators connected via renewable park developers. It also requires renewable energy generating stations with storage to specify the maximum quantum of injection and drawal in their connectivity applications. It also introduces fresh compliance monitoring frameworks with mandates for publication of utilisation data by regional load despatch centers and tightens control provisions for connectivity grantees from application to commercial date of operation.