The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has approved modifications in the standard bid document relating to the capacity utilization factor (CUF), metering point, and project location for 200 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects.

In January 2019, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had petitioned the KSERC to approve these modifications. The board had petitioned the KSERC after the pre-bid meeting in which the prospective bidders sought modifications related to CUF, interconnection point and changes in location.

Modifications

• The bidder is free to declare the maximum CUF, not below 19 percent, at the time of bidding. In such cases, the minimum CUF will be 3 percent below the maximum declared CUF. Reduction in the maximum and minimum limits of CUF will be available at the option of the selected bidder to take care of panel degradation after 15 years from the commercial operation date.
• Interconnection point or injection point will mean the line isolator if voltage transformation is not required for connecting to the intrastate transmission network in Kerala.
• Interconnection point or injection point will mean bus isolator at the voltage of injection if voltage transformation is required before connecting to substation/switchyard of the intrastate transmission network in Kerala.
• Any change in location from that provided at the time of bidding will be at the risk and cost of the bidder and will be subject to concurrence from KSEB.

After examining the petition and the submissions, the KSERC approved the modifications in the standard bidding documents.

In December 2018, the KSEB had tendered 200 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to be developed in Kerala on Independent Power Producer (IPP) mode. In November 2018, KSERC had approved a petition filed by KSEB seeking its approval for 200 MW of grid-connected solar PV projects to be developed in Kerala under IPP mode.