Section 17 in Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (Demand Side Management) Regulations, 2013
17. DSM Budget.
(1)Without prejudice to the generality of these Regulations, the following provisions shall apply:-(a)Distribution Licensee shall set up a Multi-year DSM plan and DSM programme budgets and submit the same during the MYT approval and Annual Revenue Requirements (ARR) approval process;(b)The budget shall be spent only after approval of aggregated DSM Plans/ Programmes and/or individual DSM Plans/ Programmes by the Commission;(c)DSM implementation plan and associated budgets shall be substantiated with the prioritization of the possible programmes within the license area;(d)The DSM budget to be spent every year shall be substantiated with the kW and kWh savings targets where such targets shall be developed by carrying out detailed load research activity and implementing DSM programmes that may be directed by the DSM Consultation Committee proactively for the benefit of consumers in the State.(2)Distribution Licensee shall submit year-wise schedule of DSM plan implementation and corresponding budget allocations relevant to the savings or shifting/reduction of peak load;(3)The aggregated year wise funds requirement and achievements shall be the annual DSM budgets and annual DSM targets, respectively;(4)These annual DSM budgets and targets, determined and approved at the beginning of the planning cycle shall be revisited during the Annual Performance Review;(5)The DSM-CC may take special account of measures taken by Distribution Licensee to develop carbon finance programmes using the Clean Development Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or any other voluntary carbon financing protocol;(6)Funding for DSM activities other than DSM plan implementation. - Distribution licensee shall seek separate budget approval from Commission for additional expenses (beyond the DSM programme and DSM plan implementation) to be incurred for activities such as carrying out load research, consumer surveys, DSM plan and programme development activities, research and analysis, funding of any activities proposed by the DSM-CC, conduct of potential studies, training & development, etc.;(7)Allocation of funds for consumer awareness, audits and equity considerations. - Distribution Licensee shall be allowed to spend a reasonable amount, pre-approved by the Commission on recommendations by the DSM-CC to promote programmes of the nature described below:(a)DSM Programmes that promote consumer awareness and education about why, how, when and where of load management/energy efficiency and include activities such as.-(i)Energy audits,(ii)Awareness campaigns,(iii)Energy Efficiency and Load Management demonstration projects,(iv)Training programmes, seminars, workshops, round table conferences, business exchange meets (buyer-seller meets)(v)Establishment of permanent display/demonstration centres cum model "green"/ ultra energy efficient buildings (buildings that go beyond ECBC - Energy conservation Building Codes)(b)DSM Programmes for consumers below poverty line/consumers consuming less than 100 units per month (generally considered as low income consumers)
