GERC Rules in Favour of Developer For Wheeling Charges on its Wind Project

Aarvee had filed a petition with the state commission against Torrent Power and the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd. (GETCL).

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) in a recent hearing and subsequent order has sided with Aarvee Denims and Exports Limited (Aarvee) in the matter of wheeling of power from its wind project.

In its petition, the developer requested the commission to declare that the adopting methodology for providing the set off for the wheeled energy generated from the wind turbine generators (WTG) to the place of consumption is against the provision of Gujarat’s policy. It had also requested that the Commission declare that the adjustment of wind energy generated and wheeled through open access as well as the modification of the units given by the respondents have all been illegal and should be quashed and set aside.

Aarvee also petitioned for the commission to decide and declare that the adjustment of wind energy generated and wheeled from the WTG of the Petitioner place of consumption and consumption of purchase of energy through open access and the adjustment of the units given by the Respondent is without the approval of the Commission. While also requesting the commission to order the respondents to revise the bills issued. This could be done firstly, by adjusting the energy purchased from the energy exchange or bilateral contract and later, the set off given to the wheeled and balance units should be given a banking period of six months.

After going through the submissions made, the commission noted that the respondents move to set off the wheeled energy for the wind turbine generators first against the consumption in preference over the energy purchased under short-term open access is contrary and not in line with the decision taken by the GERC and therefore, rejected.

It further stated that energy purchased through short-term open access has to be accounted first against the block-wise consumption of the consumer and the balance consumption in a month has to be accounted either as the energy wheeled from its wind turbine generators or as the energy supplied by the discom. The surplus energy, if any, remaining after the set-off, can be banked in accordance with the wind policy of the state government.

The GERC stated that if the methodology of energy accounting adopted by the Respondent is different and distinct from the aforesaid decision then the same is required to be revised as decided by the Commission.