Markets & Policy

Draft Uttar Pradesh Electricity Grid Code Regulations, 2026: UPERC Sets August 21 Deadline for Stakeholder Comments

August 4, 2026 By Gaurav Nathani 5 min read
0:00 / 05:51

LUCKNOW, UP – The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has moved to overhaul the state’s aging 2007 grid framework with the release of the Draft Uttar Pradesh Electricity Grid Code Regulations, 2026. Exercising its powers under Section 181 read with Section 61 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Commission intends to modernize the technical and operational standards governing the state’s power system. Stakeholders and the public have been invited to submit written comments, suggestions, or objections regarding the draft by a primary deadline of August 21, 2026.

Regulatory Scope and Technical Definitions

The proposed code establishes a comprehensive regulatory net, governing a diverse array of participants in the state’s electrical ecosystem. Covered entities include the State Transmission Utility (STU), the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), generating companies, Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and distribution licensees. Crucially, the scope explicitly extends to Renewable Power Park Developers, Lead Generators, and Quality Coordinating Agencies (QCAs).

In alignment with the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) Regulations, 2023, the draft provides rigorous technical definitions to ensure operational uniformity:

  • Generating Station: Defined under sub-section 30 of Section 2 of the Act, including all stages, blocks, or units of a station.
  • Generating Unit: For standard thermal stations, this encompasses the steam generator, turbine-generator, and auxiliaries. For a combined cycle thermal generating station, it specifically includes the combustion turbine-generator, associated waste heat recovery boiler, connected steam turbine-generator, and all associated auxiliaries. For hydro stations, it refers to the turbine-generator and its auxiliaries.

Key Technical and Operational Provisions

The 2026 framework categorizes the state’s electrical mandates into specialized chapters designed to manage the complexities of a modernizing grid:

  • Resource & Transmission Planning: A framework for long-term grid expansion and resource adequacy to ensure the state meets future demand projections.
  • Connection Code & Protection Standards: These sections outline the safety protocols and technical requirements for grid integration, protecting the network from equipment failure.
  • Operating Code & Grid States: The draft defines four distinct grid conditions to guide SLDC response: Normal, Alert, Emergency, and Blackout.
  • Operational Mechanisms: The code formalizes the use of Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and Security Constrained Economic Despatch (SCED). These tools are prioritized to maintain system frequency and optimize the cost-efficiency of power despatch.

Synthesis of Commercial Operation (COD) and Trial Runs

The draft establishes strict protocols for the transition of assets from construction to commercial service. Under Section 13 of the regulatory framework, the “Date of Commercial Operation” (COD) is defined by specific performance benchmarks:

  • Thermal Units: COD is declared after demonstrating capacity at Maximum Continuous Rating (MCR) or Installed Capacity (IC) for a continuous trial run of 72 hours.
  • Hydro and Pumped Storage: COD requires a successful trial run of 12 hours demonstrating peaking capability corresponding to the Installed Capacity. Crucially, these declarations require formal clearance from the respective RLDC or SLDC.
  • Certification: The CMD or CEO of the generating company must certify that the station meets all CEA technical standards and that permanent instrumentation, protection systems, and auto-loops are fully operational.

Addressing Grid Stability and Parallel Federal Initiatives

The 2026 framework is strategically designed to mitigate the “Curtailment Problem.” In 2025, India saw a record 2.3 TWh of solar generation curtailed because the grid could not absorb midday surpluses. This issue has been particularly acute in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, where curtailment rates have fluctuated between 10% and 30%. The UPERC’s inclusion of AGC and SCED serves as the technical remedy to balance these fluctuating loads.

While the UPERC Grid Code handles technical integration, it operates in parallel with the Union Ministry of Power’s Draft Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2026. This federal initiative provides the legal authority for state commissions to mandate “appropriate capacity” of battery storage for renewable installations exceeding 500 kW. These complementary frameworks aim to shift the burden of midday balancing from the utility to large-scale prosumers, such as industrial complexes and IT parks.

Stakeholder Consultation and Public Hearing Schedule

The Commission has provided a structured timeline for public and industry participation:

  • Written Submission Deadline: August 21, 2026.
  • Submission Channels: Hard copies must be directed to the Secretary, UPERC, Vidyut Niyamak Bhawan, Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow-226010. Digital submissions are accepted at secretary@uperc.org.
  • Public Hearing: A formal session is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at the UPERC Office in Lucknow, beginning at 11:00 hrs.

Implementation Context

Upon final notification and gazettal, the 2026 Regulations will supersede the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Grid Code, 2007. This technical overhaul is timed to align with the UPERC (Terms and Conditions of Generation Tariff) Regulations, 2024, which govern the commercial and financial aspects of the state’s power sector for the 2024–2029 period. While the Grid Code provides the technical “rules of the road,” the Tariff Regulations maintain the commercial framework for the current five-year cycle.

Official Regulatory Sources

  • Draft Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Generation Tariff) Regulations, 2024
  • Draft Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Uttar Pradesh Electricity Grid Code) Regulations, 2026
  • UPERC Order in Petition No. 2335 of 2026 (Cosmicwave Technology & Research Pvt. Ltd. vs. U.P. Power Corporation Limited)
  • UPERC Order in Petition No. 2305 of 2025 (Noida Power Company Limited regarding BESS Procurement)

Discussion (0)

Leave a Comment

CAPTCHA