ANNOUNCEMENTS
With rapidly rising electricity demand and variable renewable energy integration into the power system, the Indian Power Sector is in need for an efficient and reliable transmission system. Previously, transmission system faced challenges in accommodating short-term transactions as the transmission system was planned based on long term power purchase agreements and a point-to-point approach. Short term transactions resulted in congestion of transmission lines. To address this, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) introduced the General Network Access (GNA) framework through the CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-state Transmission System) Regulations, 2022. This dissertation is on a study of the impact of GNA on the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS), focusing on transmission charges, allocations, and losses. It examines the principles and procedures outlined in the CERC (Sharing of Inter-State Transmission Charges and Losses) Regulations, 2020, and analyses the impact across states and regions. The research reviews the benefits of GNA, like empowering generators as now connectivity can be availed even without any power purchase agreement, facilitating renewable energy integration, and fostering competition, and suggests potential areas for improvement. Further, a regional analysis is undertaken, supported by case studies of select states, to examine the inter-regional transfer capabilities, regional load conditions, and state dependence on ISTS transmission lines. Major findings of this dissertation include that 21 states observed increased in their GNA quantum (transmission line allocation in MW), and 13 states observed decreased in their GNA quantum (transmission line allocation in MW). While monthly transmission bill increased for some states like Andhra Pradesh and decreased for others like Arunachal Pradesh, the transmission rates (INR/kWh) demonstrated an opposite trend. With reference to likely areas of improvement, this study suggests revising capacity thresholds, streamlining application processes, and need to address concerns related to relinquishment charges and bank guarantees.
Key Words: General Network Access (GNA), ISTS, Transmission.
