The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has issued an order accepting delays by the state load despatch center (SLDC) in implementing its procedures for forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement due to the difficulties caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. The Commission has asked the SLDC to enforce the regulations from October 14, 2020.

The forecasting and scheduling of renewable power and compensation to be paid to electricity grid infrastructure providers in case of errors are regulated through deviation settlement mechanism.

Background:

The Uttar Pradesh State Load Despatch Center (UPSLDC) had filed a petition with the state Commission seeking relaxation under the UPERC Forecasting Regulations, 2018.

As per the regulations, it is required to provide a plan for data telemetry, communication requirements, the format of forecast submission, and other details as part of a detailed procedure prescribed by the Commission. The state load despatch center said that it had submitted the plan to the Commission, and it was approved on March 18, 2020.

However, to adopt these procedures, the center said it would first have to make arrangements to undertake aggregate forecasting of solar and wind-based power to be injected into the state’s grid. It added that it would also have to modify the energy accounting and settlement system (EASS) or scheduling portal with a service provider’s help. Alternatively, it would have to acquire software to carry this out.

The state load despatch center explained that it had assigned this work to a service provider, but because of the global pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown, the service provider could not carry out the work. In light of this, it asked the Commission for a six-month relaxation to implement the procedure. However, it noted that the work has been completed and that it is ready to implement it.

Commission’s Stance:

After analyzing the submission, the Commission said that the state load despatch center’s submission that the procedures were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic was legitimate. In its final order, it overlooked the delay and allowed it to implement the regulatory procedures starting October 14, 2020.

Earlier this year, the state regulator had accepted Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited’s request to modify the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s deviation settlement mechanism regulations to take care of the state-specific needs. The Commission had said that it would issue necessary amendments to the Regulations 2019 as required. Until then, the prevailing regulations will continue to be in force. In December last year, UPERC issued draft regulations for forecasting, scheduling, and deviation settlement of solar and wind projects in the state.

Previously, Mercom reported on the difficulties faced by developers with forecasting and scheduling renewables.