UPERC (Grant of Connectivity to intra-State Transmission System) (First

Amendment) Regulations, 2023.

The Key Amendments are as hereunder –
A) Meaning of “Applicant” expanded
I. Renewable energy generating station, with or without ESS, with installed
capacity of 5 MW & above individually or with an aggregate installed
capacity of 5 MW & above through a Lead Generator
II. ESS with an installed capacity of 5 MW & above individually or with an
aggregate installed capacity of 5 MW & above through a Lead ESS,
III. renewable energy generating station or ESS with an installed capacity of 1
MW & above
IV. Renewable Power Park Developer with an installed capacity of 5 MW &
above

B) New definitions added

I. “Committed Transmission Line” - a transmission line constructed
exclusively for a captive user or an open access consumer or a data center park
(voltage 132 kV & above)
II. “energy storage system” or “ESS” in relation to the electricity system,
means a facility where electrical energy is converted into any form of energy
which can be stored, and subsequently reconverted into electrical energy and
injected back into the grid;
III. “electrical system” of a generating station shall mean electrical system /
switchyard of a generating station including dedicated transmission line, if any
IV. “Renewable energy generating station” or “REGS” means a generating
station based on a renewable source of energy with or without energy storage
system, including renewable hybrid generating station, connected at the same
inter-connection point
V. “Renewable hybrid generating station” or “RHGS” means a generating
station based on hybrid of two or more renewable source(s) of energy with or
without energy storage system, connected at the same inter-connection point

C) Grant of Connectivity
I) Nodal Agency to make connection offer within 90 days of application instead
of 120 days
II) Added requirement of a Connectivity Bank Guarantee

D) Connectivity Bank Guarantee

I) To be submitted in two parts, Conn-BG 1 towards estimated cost of
inter-connection facilities, and Conn-BG 2 @ Rs. 5 lakh/MW
II) BGs need to be submitted within 15 days of connection offer
III) In case of failure to sign connection agreement within 45 days of grant
of connectivity, BG will be encashed by the Nodal Agency
 IV) Conn-BG1 shall be returned within fifteen (15) days after deposition of
estimated cost of interconnection facility.
V) Conn-BG2 shall be returned within thirty (30) days of date of
commercial operation of proportionate capacity of generating station /
of electrical plant or electric line of the applicant.

E) Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Committed Transmission Line

I) Choice of Applicant to either construct the line on T&C laid by STU or it may
construct such transmission line on its own under supervision of the STU
II) Operation and maintenance by STU
III) Ownership of applicant

F) Transfer of Connectivity
- Allowed only in the following two cases –
i) From Parent company to subsidiary company and vice versa
ii) To 3rd parties only if generating station / electrical plant and/or electric line
being transferred in accordance with law