Compliance Requirement Under Rules in Accordance with the Sections:
Every user must provide adequate fire protection to all apparatus in its system, conforming to relevant Indian Standard Specifications and/or the provisions of the CEA (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010.
Generating companies must provide a real-time automatic data transfer facility to Sub-SLDC, compatible with the existing SCADA of the Sub-SLDC. Where SCADA equipment is absent, generating companies shall provide the SLDC with quarter-hourly generation summation outputs. All CPPs with capacity above 5 MW shall provide to the SLDC quarter-hourly export/import MW and MVAr data. Generating companies shall also provide other logged readings as reasonably required by SLDC for monitoring purposes where SCADA data is unavailable.
Generating companies must promptly inform the SLDC about any unit tripping or restriction in full-load generation, along with the reasons. Monthly unit tripping reports shall be submitted to the SLDC. The SLDC must also be informed when tripped generating units are being restored to service.
Generating companies and CPPs above 5 MW must submit monthly data to the SLDC in the first week of the succeeding month, including quarter-hourly generation/export-import details, logged unit readings, and detailed reports of generating unit trippings during the month.
After a total blackout, restoration shall depend on pre-contingency conditions, including generation availability, transmission line status, and load demand. Authorised user personnel shall remain available for operational coordination, and communication channels shall be used only for operational purposes until normal conditions are restored.
In case of a total regional blackout, recovery shall be as per the Black Start procedure prepared by WRLDC in consultation with all constituents of the western region. As these procedures are updated periodically, the latest updated procedure shall be followed during any total regional blackout.
In case of a total or partial State Transmission System blackout, restoration shall be as per the latest Black Start/Restoration procedure prepared by the SLDC in consultation with users. All users must comply with SLDC restoration instructions, even if a specific situation is not explicitly covered in the procedure document.
Distribution Licensees must: (a) sectionalise the distribution system into discrete, unconnected blocks of load; and (b) advise the SLDC on the quantum of load likely to be picked up by each generator being synchronised during grid restoration.
Generating companies must commence the planned Black Start procedure immediately upon instruction from the SLDC, and steadily increase generation in accordance with the demand intimated by the SLDC during grid restoration.
Distribution Licensees shall separately identify non-essential components of essential loads that may be kept off during system contingencies, and draw up an appropriate schedule with corresponding load blocks for each case. Non-essential loads may be restored only when system normalcy is restored and as advised by the SLDC.
All users shall exercise special care in carrying out restoration procedures to prevent secondary collapse of the system due to haste or inappropriate loading. Despite the urgency of the situation, careful, prompt, and complete logging of all operations and operational messages shall be ensured by all users to facilitate subsequent investigation. Such investigation shall be conducted promptly after the incident and placed before the Grid Code Review Panel at its next meeting.
All users shall comply with the agreed safety rules drawn up in accordance with the CEA (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010. All equipment on Cross Boundary Circuits used for safety coordination, isolation, and earthing shall be permanently and clearly marked with a unique identification number or name for the particular sub-station. The equipment shall be regularly inspected and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.
Each Distribution Licensee connected to the Transmission System shall maintain an updated map of its system pertaining to the area fed by each sub-station, and exhibit the same in the concerned area offices of the Distribution Licensee.
For cross-boundary work, Control Persons of the user or STU/Transmission Licensee shall directly coordinate — preferably by telephone — using agreed code words for identification. If work continues beyond one shift, proper handover and briefing must be given to the relief Control Person. Control Persons shall cooperate to maintain all necessary safety precautions. Established isolations and earthing arrangements shall remain locked and clearly identified and recorded in the log sheet. Equipment shall be returned to service only after confirmation through direct communication, using agreed code words, that all safety precautions have been removed and all safety documents returned.
Safety Standards form an integral part of the Grid Code and must be followed by STU, Transmission Licensees, and all users. Substation operation and maintenance manuals, along with maintenance registers for equipment, station batteries, and transmission lines, shall be maintained, updated, and periodically reviewed. Single Line Diagrams and safety clearance charts shall be prominently displayed at sub-stations. Danger boards shall be installed at publicly accessible locations as per CEA Safety Regulations, 2010 and Indian Standards. Relays and circuit breakers shall be periodically tested, and station batteries and DC systems shall be properly maintained with minimal leakage current.
The form specified in Annexure G of the Grid Code, designated as the Requisition for Line Clear Permit, shall be used by the Authorised Station Shift In-charge and the Authorised Site In-charge for all cross-boundary work requiring line clearance.
The form specified in Annexure I of the Grid Code, designated as the Line Clear Return, shall be used for the return of the Line Clear Permit after the work for which the Line Clear Permit was issued has been completed.
The STU/Transmission Licensee and all users shall nominate suitably authorised persons — referred to as Control Persons — to be responsible for co-ordination of safety across their boundaries. All users having a direct control boundary with the STU/Transmission Licensee shall issue a list of their Control Persons to the STU/Transmission Licensee, and this list shall be updated promptly whenever there is any change of name, designation, or telephone number. Each Control Person shall maintain a legibly written safety log, in chronological order, of all operations and messages sent and received. All safety logs shall be retained for not less than ten years.
The SLDC/STU/Transmission Licensee shall install and make operational a metering data collection system under SCADA for the storage, display, and processing of operational metering data. All users shall make the outputs of their respective operational meters available to the SCADA interface equipment for this purpose.
STU/Transmission Licensees and Generating Stations shall establish and maintain dedicated and backup communication links for voice, written communication, and data acquisition between generating stations, sub-stations, SLDC, and Sub-SLDC. Communication shall be available both by direct dialling of discrete numbers and through hotline links by lifting the telephone handset. Hotline links shall be established between all major generating stations, important sub-stations, and SLDC.
The SLDC requires real-time data on MW/MVAr generation, power flow, voltages, frequency, weather conditions, transformer tap positions, and breaker/isolator status for effective grid control. Generating companies shall provide RTU or interface facilities for transmitting such data to Sub-SLDC/SLDC. STU/CTU/Transmission Licensees shall similarly provide RTU or SCADA interface points from their receiving stations and sub-stations to Sub-SLDC/SLDC. At all 765/400 kV lines, HVDC links, and important 220 kV lines, disturbance recorders shall be installed and data made available to SLDC for post-event analysis.
Whenever the SLDC or STU/Transmission Licensee considers that an event has had a significant effect on the Transmission System, the user shall submit a written report on the event to the STU/Transmission Licensee within one day of being directed to do so.
Where the STU/Transmission Licensee reports an event to the SLDC and a user, and the event significantly affects the user’s system, the user may require the Transmission Licensee to submit a written report of the event within one day.
On receipt of a disturbance warning from the SLDC, each user and STU/Transmission Licensee must immediately warn its operational staff and maintain its plant and apparatus in the condition best able to withstand the anticipated disturbance, for the duration of the warning period.
In case of loss of communication with the SLDC, generating stations shall continue operating as per the last dispatch instruction received and make all reasonable efforts to maintain system frequency at 50 Hz ± 0.5 Hz, until new instructions are received from the SLDC.
Any accident related to generation, transmission, distribution, supply, or use of electricity — causing or likely to cause injury or loss of human or animal life — shall be handled in accordance with the procedures prescribed under the Power System Safety Standard.
Every Distribution Licensee must submit a quarterly performance report to GERC and the STU, covering Demand Management, Reactive Power Management, system operation details, and pocket-wise load forecasting information.
Each generating company must submit a half-yearly performance report to GERC and the STU, covering Plant Load Factor (PLF), key performance indicators, and the range of maximum/minimum VAr injection and VAr absorption within the generator’s capability curve.
All incidents involving 66 kV and above lines or equipment shall be orally reported by the concerned user to affected users and the SLDC within 15 minutes. A written report must follow within one hour, containing sufficient details for risk assessment and operational evaluation.
Major reportable incidents shall be orally reported within 15 minutes, followed by a written report within 2 hours and a detailed written report within 48 hours. Reports may be communicated by telephone, fax, or email and must provide sufficient details for operational and risk assessment.
In cases other than major reportable incidents or 66 kV and above events, the reporting user shall submit a report to the SLDC within five working days, containing sufficient details for assessment of operational implications and risks. The user must also provide clarifications and all necessary information whenever requested by the SLDC or STU.
Users shall promptly notify the STU/Transmission Licensee and SLDC of any event on their system affecting the Transmission System. Reportable incidents include abnormal voltage or frequency conditions, major equipment faults (such as transformers or circuit breakers), and serious problems in generating units affecting grid operations.
Every user must submit all required data to the STU in accordance with the Grid Code. Generating companies shall furnish Planning Data (Annexure B), Operation Planning Data (Annexure E), and System Data. Distribution companies shall furnish Planning Data (Annexure B) and Operation Planning Data (Annexure E), along with the contact details of the responsible person for each submission.
Data schedules shall serve as standard formats for written data submission. Where no standard format exists, the SLDC shall develop suitable formats in consultation with users. All required data shall be submitted to the STU or any department or Transmission Licensee notified by the STU. The name of the person submitting each data schedule shall be clearly indicated. Where computer data links exist, data may be transmitted electronically in the prescribed format. Users shall coordinate with STU/SLDC on communication protocols, transmission speed, and related technical requirements.
Every user must promptly notify the STU of any change to data registered under its licence, as soon as the user becomes aware of such change.
Each generating station must maintain operating log books recording machine operation and maintenance activities, and make them available for review by the SLDC at all times.
Every generating station must submit to the SLDC by 9:00 AM every day the station-wise ex-power plant MW and MWh capabilities foreseen for the next day (00:00 hrs to 24:00 hrs).
Generators of 100 MW and above, and sellers in short-term bilateral transactions, must immediately intimate the SLDC of any forced unit outage along with a requisition for schedule revision and the estimated restoration time. The revised schedule shall become effective from the 4th time block after the forced outage is declared. Transmission charges as per the original schedule shall continue to be paid for two days after the outage.
Distribution Licensees shall restrict net drawl to within their schedules when frequency falls below 49.8 Hz, and ensure that their automatic demand management scheme achieves zero over-drawl at 49.7 Hz or below. If the automatic scheme is not commissioned, manual demand management shall be implemented to achieve zero over-drawl at or below 49.7 Hz. Distribution Licensees shall regularly carry out short-term demand estimation exercises for their respective areas to plan how to meet consumer loads without over-drawing from the grid.
Generating stations shall generally operate as per their daily schedules but may deviate within limits specified under CERC UI Regulations, depending on system conditions. When frequency is above 50.2 Hz, actual net injection must not exceed the scheduled quantum, and generating stations may back down at their discretion. When frequency falls below 49.8 Hz, generation at all stations (except those on peaking duty) shall be maximised up to sustainable levels without waiting for SLDC advice, provided such increase does not lead to unacceptable line loading or deterioration of system parameters.
Generating stations shall declare next-day ex-power plant MW/MWh capabilities, including minimum and maximum generation during fuel shortages, and specify ramp-up/ramp-down capability. Gas and combined cycle stations shall separately declare capacities on APM gas, RLNG, and liquid fuel. Generating stations must ensure that declared capability during peak hours is not less than during other hours (with exceptions for forced outages and run-of-river hydro stations). The SLDC may require explanation if a station is suspected of deliberate over- or under-declaration of plant capability.
Generating stations shall adjust generator-transformer taps and generate or absorb reactive power as directed by the SLDC, within unit capability limits and without affecting active generation. No separate payment shall be made for such VAr support where annual fixed costs are already recovered through capacity charges.
Constituents must pay Unscheduled Interchange (UI) charges and VAr charges into the State UI Pool Account and State Reactive Account respectively, both operated by the SLDC, within 10 days of the statement issue. Payment of UI and VAr charges carries high priority. Interest at 0.04% per day shall be charged for each day of delay beyond 12 days from the statement issue date. Persistent payment defaults shall be reported by the SLDC to the Commission for initiating remedial action.
Penalty & Consequences
The following penalty provisions apply across the compliance obligations covered in this blog. These have been consolidated and de-duplicated for ease of reference:
Section 146 of the Electricity Act, 2003 — General Penalty for Non-Compliance
Whoever fails to comply with any order or direction issued under the Electricity Act, 2003, or contravenes — or attempts or abets the contravention of — any provision of the Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both, in respect of each offence. In the case of a continuing failure, a further fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which the failure continues after conviction of the first such offence shall also be imposed.
Clause 11.62 — Interest on Delayed Payment of UI and VAr Charges
Interest at 0.04% per day shall be charged for each day of delay beyond 12 days from the date of issue of the UI or VAr charge statement. Persistent payment defaults shall be reported by SLDC to the Commission for initiating remedial action.
Clause 11.12–11.15 — Penalty for Mis-Declaration of Plant Capability
The quantum of penalty for the first mis-declaration — for any duration or time block in a day — shall be equivalent to fixed charges for two days. For the second mis-declaration, the penalty shall be equivalent to fixed charges for four days, and for subsequent mis-declarations during the month, the penalty shall be multiplied in geometrical progression.
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