Currently, generating companies have the option of booking transmission corridors for up to 3 months (short term open access) or for 25 years (long term open access).
CERC today floated a consultation paper to seek comments of all the interested parties on this proposal.
"The main rationale behind the proposal is to introduce transmission corridor for even those transactions which fall under the category of 3 months to 25 years. Also we were receiving complaints from private developers that big generators like NTPC have dominated the transmission facilities," said Alok Kumar, secretary CERC.
The paper has proposed the duration of medium term transmission usage to be from 3 months to 3 years.
Kumar said that the new regulation would connect all the generating stations of 1,000 Mw and above to the inter-state transmission system.
The paper has proposed a "non discriminatory arrangement of transmission" which would mean facilitation of the grid irrespective of ownership of the power plant.
It also identifies the central transmission utility (CTU), Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), as the nodal agency for providing transmission linkages for the open access for transferring power through the grid.
The last date for receiving comments is August 14, 2008.
Traditionally setting up of a power generating station requires a finalized power purchase agreement right from the beginning. The paper proposes that power plants will now get transmission facilities just by indicating the region in which the power is to be supplied, in case the beneficiaries are not clearly identified.
It also says that the application for arranging long term transmission will be processed in 3 stages by the Central transmission utility - which will have separate processing times ranging from 60 to 120 days.
