Section 5 in Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Promotion of Generation from the Renewable Energy Sources and Terms and Conditions for Tariff Determination) Regulations, 2017
5. Promotion of renewable energy sources.
(1)Any renewable energy generator who does not have an arrangement for disposal/use of energy from his project may, with prior consent of the distribution licensee and approval of the Commission, enter into a power purchase agreement, on long term basis or under the REC mechanism, with the distribution licensee as per the provisions of the relevant applicable regulations, read with regulation 3; or the renewable energy generator may have open access to transmission system and/or distribution system of the licensee(s), as the case may be, in accordance with the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grant of Connectivity, Long-term and Medium-term Intra-State Open Access and Related Matters) Regulations, 2010.(2)The renewable energy generator, to whom connectivity with the transmission or distribution system of the concerned licensee has not already been granted, shall apply for connectivity to the licensee at least 24 months prior to intended date of such connectivity or within such time frame as may be mutually agreed:Provided that in case of renewable technologies other than small hydro projects, such application may be made at least 12 months prior to the intended date of such connectivity or within such time frame as may be mutually agreed.(3)The licensee may, on receipt of the application, grant its approval to provide interconnection point as per the power system master plan/subplan, as devised by the State Transmission Utility (STU)/ distribution licensee for various capacities of projects, duly keeping in view the provisions in the agreements already executed or the mutual acceptance between the licensee and the renewable energy generator.(4)The renewable energy generator shall, soon after finalisation of the interconnection point or immediately in cases where the same has already been finalised, execute an interconnection agreement with the State Transmission Utility and/or the intra-State transmission licensee and/or distribution licensee owning the system where connectivity is to be provided.(5)The licensee shall, after receipt of the estimated cost of the interconnection facilities, provide appropriate facilities consistent with the grid connectivity standards laid down by the Authority or as specified in the relevant Code(s)/Regulations-(i)in case where such facilities are to be provided at an existing substation, within a period of 12 months or as may be agreed otherwise;and(ii)in case of the new sub-station, within such period as may be mutually agreed keeping in view the time frame in which such new sub-station is to be commissioned:Provided that the renewable energy generator shall give prior intimation, at least 4 months before the expected date of commencement of operation of the project, to the licensee about his intention and readiness to inject power and also regarding the arrangements finalised by him for disposal of power beyond the interconnection point:Provided further that the renewable energy generator will have to comply with the connectivity standards and the conditions as specified in the State Grid Code/Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) - Regulation 2010, the Electricity Distribution Code and/or any other Standards/Codes/Regulations as may be relevant.(6)In order to optimize the use of limited transmission/subtransmission corridors or the limited space at the sub-stations of the licensee, the renewable energy generators may, with the approval of the licensee, enter into a suitable arrangement for joint project line(s) for two or more projects and inject power into the grid through the joint evacuation system in accordance with the principles laid down, from time to time, by the Commission.(7)Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding sub-regulation (6), where there are right of way problems or there are space limitations at the sub-station of the concerned licensee, the licensee may require the renewable energy generators to enter into suitable arrangement for joint project line(s) for two or more projects and inject power into the grid through the joint evacuation system.(8)The renewable energy generators may, in consultation with and also with the prior approval of the licensee, augment or establish, on behalf of the licensee, the transmission/distribution system beyond the interconnection point, on build and transfer basis, as per the best industry practices and the expenditure so incurred by the renewable energy generators and approved by the licensee shall be repaid by the licensee, alongwith interest, in five equal installments, spread over a period not exceeding 5 years commencing from one year after the date of commissioning of such works, and such expenditure shall be allowed as a pass through to the licensee:Provided that if such works are not a part of the Capital Expenditure Plan (CAPEX PLAN) approved by the Commission, then the necessary approval for the CAPEX PLAN for the same shall be obtained by the licensee from the Commission before according approval to any such arrangement.
