Operationalization Plan for Deemed T-GNA for Generators with Ineffective Connectivity

Proposed Procedures for Connectivity Bottlenecks

The Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) is scheduled to deliberate on a specialized operationalization plan during its 58th meeting on May 18-19, 2026, in Kerala. Presented as Agenda Item 25 by the Western Regional Load Despatch Centre (WRLDC), the proposal outlines the “Procedure for Grant of Deemed T-GNA to Generators whose Connectivity is not effective.” This framework addresses specific grid injection constraints for generating stations that have not yet achieved effective connectivity under the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) 2023. The National Open Access Registry (NOAR) is designated as the primary interface for all administrative lifecycle events related to these applications.

Institutional Framework and Processing Timelines

The administrative hierarchy for T-GNA involves the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs), and State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs). The following table delineates roles and mandatory turnaround times (TAT) for processing:

Standing Clearance and “Deemed Clearance” Mechanisms

Under the GNA Regulations and IEGC-2023, Standing Clearance (SC) serves as the regulatory prerequisite for market participation via T-GNA. The maximum validity for any issued SC is 11 months. Administrative processing follows differentiated timelines:

• New Entities: 7 working days for initial verification and issuance.
• Existing Entities: 3 working days for renewal or modification.

The “Deemed Standing Clearance” Rule: To prevent administrative delays from obstructing market access, the procedure includes a “deemed” provision. If the relevant Load Despatch Centre (LDC) fails to communicate an approval or rejection within the specified 3-day or 7-day window, the Standing Clearance is legally considered granted, and the NOAR platform will permit the applicant to proceed with transaction scheduling.

Financial Parameters, Fees, and Default Penalties

Financial compliance is governed by strict remittance windows and interest-bearing penalties to ensure the integrity of the transmission charge pool:

• Processing Fee: Rs 5,000 (Non-refundable) per application.
• Transmission Charge Payment: Full remittance required within 3 working days of approval.
• Late Payment Penalty: Interest accrues at a rate of 0.04% per day on all overdue amounts.
• Default Consequences: Persistent failure to remit charges or unauthorized injection exceeding approved capacity will result in debarment from the T-GNA window.

Provisions for Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Storage

In alignment with IEGC-2023 and national directives for decarbonization, the procedure provides specialized access for intermittent and storage-based resources. These categories are eligible for transmission charge waivers as per prevailing Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) directives:

• Stand-alone Renewable Energy Generating Stations (REGS).
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Storage Projects (PSP).
• Hybrid Power Projects (Wind-Solar combinations with or without storage).

These provisions facilitate grid balancing, particularly in the Western Region, where high RE penetration has necessitated tighter control over reactive power requirements and frequency stability.

Grid Security Margins and Transaction Settlement

Transaction execution remains contingent upon the real-time assessment of transmission margins to maintain N-1 contingency standards. Settlement is categorized by transaction type:

1. Bilateral Transactions: Applications are processed for access starting from the third day following the application date (D+3).
2. Collective Transactions: Settlements for Power Exchange-based trades occur on a day-ahead basis (D+1).

The RLDCs are responsible for ensuring that T-GNA grants do not infringe upon the security margins required for General Network Access (GNA) long-term firm contracts.

Final Procedural Constraints

The use of the NOAR platform is mandatory for the entire T-GNA lifecycle. All procedural events—from the initial application by generators with ineffective connectivity to the final administrative approval and subsequent revisions—must be executed exclusively through the NOAR digital interface. Manual processing or offline documentation is prohibited under the proposed WRLDC operationalization plan.