The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has fixed the sale price of the surplus power generated by the Captive Generation Plants (CGPs) in the state.
The price of power up to supply of 3.6 million unit (mu) per month will be Rs 3.10 per kilo watt hour (kwh) and the supplies above 3.6 mu per month up to 36 mu per month would fetch a price of Rs 3.40 per kwh.
While the price will be Rs 3.70 per kwh for supply of incremental energy above 36mu per month up to 72 mu per month, the CGPs can sell power beyond 72 mu per month at a rate of Rs 4.05 per kwh.
For the co-generating plants, the price would be Rs 3.20 per unit up to 3.6 mu per month and for injection beyond 3.6 mu, the additional units would attract the same rate applicable to the CGPs.
However, the CGPs will have to furnish the steam flow data from their Waste Heat Recovery Boiler (WHRB) and conventional boiler separately. They will also have to furnish their annual generation data to Gridco for confirming their status as co-generation plants.
Gridco has been directed to finalise the co-generation status of the eligible CGPs by 15 November and ensure payments as per the rate approved by the Commission.
OERC directed the CGPs which have not signed power purchase agreement with Gridco to sign the agreement committing the quantum of power they would supply to Gridco. This will also be applicable to the IMFA and Nalco. Gridco will take expeditious steps for signing the appropriate agreement with the CGPs. The Commission also directed Gridco to co-ordinate with the Orissa Power Transmission Corporation of Orissa Ltd. (OPTCL) to ensure that frequent disturbances of grid at Duburi, Paradeep and Choudwar are rectified to remove difficulty of the CGPs in injecting the surplus power to the state grid.
On the issues of pricing of the drawal of emergency and back up power by industries having captive generation, the Commission stated that the CGPs drawing power from the grid either for emergency or back up power shall be charged at 105 percent of the maximum rate at which they are paid for their surplus power.
While the agreement between Gridco and CGPs will incorporate these stipulations, the drawal by the CGPs from the grid and injection by CGPs to the grid would be metered separately and settled at separate rate.
Regarding the direct supply of power by some of the CGPs to distribution companies, OERC said, there is need for Gridco to take pro-active steps to incentivise those CGPs to supply power through it. The modified CGP power pricing will be effective from 1 November.
Welcoming the OERC order, the secretary of Confederation of Captive Power Plants, Orissa, Sanjiv Das said, this would pave the way for higher injection of CGP power into the state grid and help in fighting acute power crisis.
