CERC sets phased timeline for market coupling rollout starting January 2026

  The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has passed a suo motu order to begin phased implementation of market coupling under the CERC (Power Market) Regulations, 2021. As per the order dated 23 July 2025 (Petition No. 8/SM/2025), the process will start with coupling the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) of power exchanges by January 2026. This decision follows a shadow pilot conducted by Grid Controller of India (Grid-India) between December 2024 and March 2025. The pilot…

Electricity Derivatives in India: Interview with Rajendra Abhijeet

  India’s electricity market is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of electricity derivatives. In this interview, hosted by Power Peak Digest and published on the YouTube channel Electricity Market in India, Rajendra Abhijeet, a seasoned expert with over 15 years of experience in the power sector, specialising in regulatory and compliance, shares insights on how these financial instruments are reshaping India’s power trading landscape. The discussion explores the mechanics of electricity derivatives, their…

Power sector regulatory highlights – June 23, 2025

Renewables: DERC revises net metering rules for ToD consumers under Sixth Amendment The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has issued the Sixth Amendment Guidelines, 2025, modifying the Group Net Metering and Virtual Net Metering for Renewable Energy Guidelines, 2019. The amendment takes effect immediately upon publication on the DERC website. The key change replaces the term “off peak time block for ToD consumers” with “normal time block for ToD consumers” in Sub-clauses (c) and (e)…

Regulatory Developments in Power Trading Sector: May 19, 2025

  CERC grants Category V trading licence to Visan Infrastructure The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved a Category V interstate electricity trading licence for Visan Infrastructure Private Limited (VIPL), allowing it to trade electricity across India. The order follows VIPL’s compliance with regulatory norms on financial capacity and technical expertise. Under the Trading Licence Regulations, 2020, Category V licensees require a net worth of Rs 20 million and a liquidity ratio of at…

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CERC proposes payment for infirm power from thermal plants before trial run

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued the draft Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2025, proposing limited payments for infirm power injected by thermal generating stations before trial runs. Currently, under the DSM Regulations, 2024, no payments are made for infirm power unless scheduled after a successful trial run. Thermal generators raised concerns about unrecovered fuel costs during mandatory testing. The Ministry of Power also called for a review of…

Regulatory Developments in Renewable Sector: May 7, 2025

  APERC approves 400 MW wind-solar hybrid projects  The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has granted approval for four amended Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) totaling 400 MW of wind-solar hybrid power. The projects, developed by Axis Energy Ventures India Private Limited (AEVIPL) under the Bundling, Balancing, and Banking (BBB) scheme, will supply electricity to the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (APSPDCL) at a fixed tariff of Rs 4.60 per kWh for 25…

Regulatory Developments in Power Generation Sector: May 7, 2025

  CERC approves tariff for NTPC’s Tanda Thermal Power Station Stage-II  The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved the tariff for NTPC Limited’s Tanda Thermal Power Station Stage-II (1320 MW) for the period from Unit-I’s commercial operation date (7 November 2019) to 31 March 2024.   The Tanda station, located in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, consists of two 660 MW units. Unit-I achieved COD on 7 November 2019, and Unit-II on 1 July 2021. The…

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CERC changes power trading rules to make prices more transparent

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued new rules to improve electricity trading in India. The changes aim to make prices clearer, reduce confusion, and encourage more participation. The new rules apply to short-term power contracts: Term Ahead Market (TAM), Day-Ahead Contingency (DAC), Intra-Day, and Any-Day Single-Sided (ADSS). In the TAM segment, power exchanges will stop offering custom time slots like hourly contracts within a week. Only fixed slots such as Base, Round-The-Clock (RTC),…

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CERC issues interstate licence to Powergrid Bhadla Bikaner Transmission

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has granted an interstate transmission licence to Powergrid Bhadla Bikaner Transmission Ltd (PBBTL), a subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). The licence, valid for 25 years, is subject to regulatory conditions. PBBTL is developing the “Transmission system strengthening for interconnections of Bhadla-III and Bikaner-III complex” scheme in Rajasthan. This ISTS-TBCB project is based on a build, own, operate & transfer (BOOT) model and is expected to…

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CERC releases amendments to cross-border electricity trade regulations

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has released the draft CERC (Cross Border Trade of Electricity) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2024, under the Electricity Act, 2003. The draft introduces updates to the 2019 regulations, replacing “long-term access” with general network access (GNA) and adding temporary GNA for short-term access. Key terms like “cross border transmission link” and “dedicated transmission system” have been clarified to enhance operational efficiency. Provisions for cybersecurity compliance and updated communication standards aim…