Central Electricity Regulatory Commission: The petitioner, NTPC Ltd. filed a petition under under Regulation 8 of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grant of Connectivity, Long-term Access and Medium-term Open Access in inter-State Transmission and related matters) Regulations, 2009 for seeking permission to allow interchange of power for testing including full load testing and trial run operation of Unit-II of Kudgi STPP Stage-I beyond the period of six months from the date of its first synchronization.
NTPC submitted that after the synchronization of Unit-II, they in order to expedite arrangement of power at makeup water pump house had placed the requirement in the 14th Cabinet Committee of Infrastructure (CCI)–Project Monitoring Group (PMG) meeting reviewed by Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka for 66 kV tower construction in Right of Use (ROU) corridor for making power input for makeup water pumps. NTPC had also approached the Hubli Electricity Supply Company Ltd. for providing temporary 7.5 MVA power connection at Almatti pump house from its network.
The Fourth Proviso to Regulation 8(7) of the Connectivity Regulations provides that the Commission may in exceptional circumstances, allow extension of the period for interchange of power beyond the period as prescribed in this clause, on an application made by the generating station at least two months in advance of completion of the prescribed period, provided further that the Regional Load Despatch Centre concerned while granting such permission shall keep the grid security in view.
NTPC also submitted that it was seeking extension of time for bona fide reasons for completion of balance works which included the power input arrangement for running design make up water pump which was essential for sustainable operation of unit and establishing the same would take more time.
The Electricity Regulatory Commission after taking into consideration the problems faced by the petitioner allowed the interchange of infirm power into the grid for commissioning tests including full load test of Unit-II of the project up to 27.11.2017 or actual date of commercial operation, whichever is earlier. [NTPC Limited v. AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd, Petition No. 172/MP/2017, decided on 18.8.2017]
