CERC Issues Order Clarifying GNA Rules, Grants Relief to Renewable Developers

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued a detailed order to remove operational difficulties in implementing the Connectivity and General Network Access (GNA) Regulations, 2022, responding to multiple representations from renewable energy developers and industry associations.

In its order, CERC clarified that the GNA Regulations, originally notified in June 2022 and amended subsequently in April 2023, June 2024 and August 2025, introduced the concept of solar hour and non-solar hour access through the Third Amendment which came into force on 9 September 2025. Following the amendment, several developers flagged implementation challenges.

Responding to requests from developers and industry bodies, CERC granted a one-time extension of 75 days for conversion of eligible projects to solar hour access. The commission relaxed Regulation 5.11(b) and allowed a total window of five and a half months from the effective date of the amendment, instead of the original three months.

Requests for extension were highlighted by NSEFI, Azure, Eden, Sunsure, WIPPA and Zelestra. CERC clarified that additional inverters, wind turbine generators or equivalent equipment installed solely for reactive power compensation, internal losses or technical compliance at the Point of Injection (PoI) shall not be treated as additional installed capacity requiring separate Connectivity Bank Guarantees.

CTUIL has been directed to validate such additional capacity during system studies, while ensuring that active power injection does not exceed the granted connectivity quantum.

For Energy Storage Systems facing delays due to pending drawal studies, CERC allowed temporary drawal of charging power from the grid under T-GNA, limited to existing margins, until detailed studies are completed. CTUIL has been directed to complete drawal studies within four months.

CERC held that any land parcel changes made before the Third Amendment will not be counted toward the one-time change restriction. Entities that already changed land earlier can make one fresh change after the amendment. CERC clarified that Renewable Power Park Developers (RPPDs) are eligible to apply for non-solar hour access under the Right of First Refusal (ROFR), under Regulations 5.11(b) and 5.2, within the extended timelines.

Projects that received in-principle connectivity approval before the Third Amendment will be allowed one opportunity to change energy source, even if earlier deadlines have expired or changes were previously exercised. Further, it said that where final connectivity grants are delayed and CTUIL has not communicated substation coordinates, developers will be allowed nine months from the date of communication of tentative coordinates to submit land documents.

CTUIL has been directed to implement this relaxation. Invoking its powers, CERC issued practice directions to CTUIL.