Power Sector Alert! CERC Notifies Key Amendments to GNA Regulations 2025
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has recently issued an official notification [F. No. L-1/261/2021/CERC], dated August 31, 2025, notifying amendments in the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022, by making some additional regulations in it.
These amendments have been introduced by CERC in exercise of its powers granted under subsection (1) of Section 178 and clause (ze) of subsection (2) of Section 178 read with clause (47) of Section 2, clause (d) of subsection (2) of Section 38, clause (c) of Section 40 and clause (c) of subsection (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and all other powers enabling it in this behalf and after previous publication.
The following are the key amendments introduced in the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022:
- This changed regulation may now be called the “Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the inter-State Transmission System) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2025.”
- This amended regulation is scheduled to come into effect from the date of publication in the official Gazette, i.e., August 31, 2025. Meaning, the changes in regulation have already come into effect.
- Amendment to Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations:
(a) A new clause [clause (h-i)] has been added after clause (h) in Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations. The following is the new clause:
“(h-i) “Cluster of ISTS substations” means one or more ISTS substations grouped together and declared by CTU on its website (grouped based on a detailed Procedure stipulating the criteria of grouping, including geographical proximity, technical feasibility, ISTS planning, and topographical considerations) for the ISTS substations which have been planned or are under implementation or under construction or which have already achieved commercial operation.”
(b) A new clause [clause (k-i)] has been added after clause (k) in Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations. The following is the new clause:
“(k-i) “Connectivity Grantee” means an entity which has been issued a final grant of Connectivity and has signed the Connectivity Agreement (Cat-1) under Regulation 10 of these regulations.”
(c) A new Clause (t-a) has been substituted in place of Clause (t) of Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations as under:
“(t-a) “Host RLDC” means the RLDC for the region in which the State where the entity is geographically located falls;”
(d) In the place of Clause (ak) of Regulation 2.1 of the Principal Regulations, the following new clauses, namely clause (ak-i), clause (ak-ii), clause (akiii) and clause (ak-iv), have been inserted:
“(ak-i) “Solar hours” means the time blocks of the day as declared by NLDC on each Friday, based on a detailed procedure to be issued by NLDC, for the subsequent week starting from Monday to Sunday every week for each State or part thereof, based on anticipated solar insolation;
(ak-ii) “Solar hour access” means access with injection scheduling rights during solar hours for the quantum of Connectivity and injection scheduling rights during non-solar hours for the capacity other than the solar source, limited to the quantum of Connectivity and drawal rights throughout the day in accordance with Regulation 5.11 and Annexure IV of these regulations;
(ak-iii)“Non-Solar hours” means the time blocks other than ‘Solar hours’ of the same day;
(ak-iv) “Non-Solar hour access” means access with injection scheduling rights during non-solar hours and drawal rights throughout the day in accordance with Regulation 5.11 and Annexure-IV of these regulations;”
For complete information, refer to the official notification. Below is the link to download.
