CERC emphasises need for grid discipline

New Delhi, Jul 4 (UNI) Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has stressed the need for grid discipline.

Addressing newsmen here today, CERC Chairman Pramod Deo said they would very soon finalise the regulations for terms and conditions for 2009 so as to minimise micro manageemnt and lead to light handed regulation.

He said electricity is a highly capital intensive industry and it is very difficult to standardise costs because of various factors.

Dr Deo however said the Commission is exploring the possibility of benchmarking various components of project cost to induce efficiency in management project cost by the developers, including CPSUs.

As the Chairperson of CERC is also the Chairperson of Forum of Regulators (FOR) which consists of Chairpersons of State Commissions as Members, he has identified emphasized that for some critical areas which includes promotion of renewables, demand side management, facilitating open access, protection of consumers and constituted Working Groups for detailed study and recommendations, in its june 13 meeting.

He said the CERC also stressed on the need for ensuring grid discipline and informed that penalties have been imposed in the past for grid indiscipline.

The Commission is issuing notice under section 142 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to Madhya Pradesh and Meghalaya for contravention of Commission's direction on payment of Unscheduled Interchange (UI) charges.

The Commission has facilitated setting up of a power exchange by granting permission to two companies namely. India Energy Exchange Limited (IEX) and M/s. Power Exchange India Limited. Power exchange has provided another avenue for transactions and transfer of power between buying and selling entities, Dr Deo added.

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