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M/s Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd., a company involved in manufacturing railway-related equipment, along with M/s Amp Energy C&I Nine Pvt. Ltd., approached the Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) with a request. They sought permission to use solar power through open access without having to install a dedicated electricity feeder, which is normally required under the state’s electricity regulations. Texmaco’s plant is located in the Urla Industrial Area in Raipur and currently receives electricity from a common feeder called Avinash Feeder. M/s Amp Energy has set up a 33 MW solar power plant in Bemetara district, Chhattisgarh. From this, 6.6 MW will be used by Texmaco as captive power. The power from the solar plant is connected to the grid through a dedicated 132 kV feeder to the Gandai substation. The petitioners argued that the quantity of power they intend to draw is small, and having a separate dedicated feeder just for them is not feasible. They requested the Commission to grant them an exemption from this requirement. The petitioners also assured the Commission that they would follow all necessary technical requirements. This includes setting up proper metering systems with online data communication to the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC), as well as accepting any limitations imposed on power use if the shared distribution line becomes overloaded. They committed to complying with any further conditions the Commission might impose. The main distribution company, CSPDCL, and the transmission company, CSPTCL, responded to the petition. CSPDCL acknowledged that open access is typically allowed only when the user is connected through a dedicated feeder. However, they stated that the Commission can grant exemptions in certain cases. CSPDCL said that if the exemption is granted, the petitioner must install special meters, ensure online data communication, and agree not to raise any claims if the power supply is interrupted due to maintenance or any issue in the shared feeder. CSPTCL had no objections and added similar conditions. They confirmed that technically, it is possible to transmit the solar power from the Gandai substation to Texmaco’s unit in Urla. After hearing both sides and reviewing the details, the Commission found the case fit for exemption. The Commission noted that the petitioners had accepted all the necessary conditions, including providing written undertakings. Hence, CSERC allowed Texmaco to use solar power under open access without a dedicated feeder, provided they follow the conditions laid out by both the distribution and transmission companies. |
