(1.) THE petitioner, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has filed this petition seeking permission and approval for deviation from Regulation 8(8) of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grant of Connectivity, Long -term Open Access and Medium -term Open Access in inter -State Transmission and related matters) Regulations, 2009 as amended (hereinafter referred to as "the Connectivity Regulations") in respect of the applications for connectivity regarding development of dedicated transmission system included in Enclosure -2 to the petition and to direct the applicants seeking connectivity to develop dedicated transmission systems on their own due to paucity of time available for implementation by Central Transmission Utility.
(2.) THE petitioner has submitted that Regulation 8(8) of the Connectivity Regulations as amended provides that an applicant may be required to construct a dedicated transmission line to the point of connection to enable connectivity to the grid. However, a thermal generating station of 500 MW and above other than a captive generating plant shall not be required to construct a dedicated line to the point of connection and such lines shall be taken into account for coordinated transmission planning by Central Transmission Utility(CTU) and Central Electricity Authority(CEA). The petitioner has submitted that as per Clause 7.3 of the Detailed Procedure approved by the Commission, the time line for commissioning of the dedicated systems upto the point of connection from signing of Bulk Power Transmission Agreement (BPTA) would be nine months plus the timeline specified in the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2009 (hereinafter "2009 tariff regulations) or the actual date of commissioning required by the applicant and agreed to by the Central Transmission Utility whichever is earlier.
(3.) THE petitioner has submitted that M/s SJK Powergen Ltd was granted connectivity for 1320 MW power from their generation project in Madhya Pradesh vide intimation letter dated 14.9.2010 at 765/400 Jabalpur Pooling station at 400 kV level. The transmission system for connectivity was to be implemented by CTU/inter -State transmission licensee subject to signing of transmission agreement and submission of bank guarantee. M/s SJK Powergen Ltd has neither signed the transmission agreement nor submitted the Bank Guarantee. Similarly, connectivity was granted to M/s Raigarh Energy Ltd for 600 MW power from their generation project in Chhatishgarh in Western Region vide intimation dated 14.9.2010. Though the applicant had initially indicated to implement the transmission lines on its own, subsequently the applicant had requested the CTU to take up the implementation of the transmission system required for connectivity. However, despite request by the CTU, M/s Raigarh Energy Ltd has neither signed the Transmission Agreement nor submitted the Bank Guarantee to enable CTU to take up implementation. The petitioner has submitted that since all transmission projects of STUs/CTU for which BPTAs/TSAs have not been signed on or before 5.1.2011 shall be implemented through tariff based competitive bidding route, the petitioner is not in a position to take up the implementation of the connectivity systems for IPPs of M/s SJK Powergen Ltd and M/s Raigarh Energy Ltd.