The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Ministry of Power have released the captive status verification procedure for captive power projects (CGP) and their users located in more than one state.

The procedure applies to all power projects and consumers aiming for CGP and ‘associated captive users’ status.

The captive status verification will be conducted annually. This status must be issued within two months of the applicant submitting the receipts.

The verifying authority may seek clarifications on the submitted information.

The applicant must inform the regional load dispatch centre (RLDC), state load dispatch centre (SLDC), and distribution licensees within fifteen days of the application submission.

Verification of consumption

Single captive users must consume at least 51% of the net electricity generated annually. Group captive users, except cooperative societies, must at least 51% of the annual net electricity generated.

Group captive users registered as a cooperative society must collectively consume at least 51% of the annual net electricity generated.

Special purpose vehicles can own, operate, and maintain a generating station. However, they cannot consume the CGP-generated electricity.

Captive users’ consumption must include the technical losses in the electrical network and energy storage system (ESS).

Manufacturing industry applicants with CGPs must submit the generation and in-house energy consumption figures monthly to the distribution licensee to authenticate the actual consumption and CGP generation data.

Consumption will be verified by the generating unit’s interface meter based on the net electricity generated and metered/recorded at its metering point.

The CGPs or generating units identified for captive use must have a separate interface meter with a real-time communication facility with the SLDCs/RLDCs.

Each storage system unit of captive consumers using ESS must have a separate interface meter. The meter must be equipped with a real-time communication capability with the RLDC, SLDC, or distribution companies, as specified in the metering regulations.

If the CGP is an integral part of a manufacturing unit located within its premises, the unit must have a separate interface meter with a real-time communication facility.

CGPs connected at the same pooling sub-station having a single interface must apply separately to the verifying authority for captive status verification.

The verification authority can check the total generation and metered data of the CGP units at the end of the pooling station.

Recently, CEA approved the Uniform Protection Protocol to ensure grid stability, reliability, and security and safely integrate 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and 2,100 GW by 2047.

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