Explore Business Standard
In a bid to meet the electricity requirements of Kerala, the state government on Wednesday decided to urge the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission to reinstate contracts in the power sector that it previously denied permission to. The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state government said it would give this direction to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission under Section 108 of the Electricity Act. State Power Minister K Krishnankutty said that the key regulator is legally bound to follow the direction of the state government. "If the direction is being given invoking Section 108 of the Electricity Act, then they are legally bound to accept the direction. We also have the provision for an appeal," Krishnankutty told PTI. In a statement, the CMO said the decision was taken considering public interest and to ensure that the state would not experience a power crisis. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Bo
The power ministry has asked Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC) to initiate the process of coupling multiple power exchanges, a mechanism which seeks to ensure uniformity in price discovery of energy at trading platforms. At present India has three power exchanges -- Indian Electricity Exchange (IEX), Power Exchange of India (PXIL) and Hindustan Power Exchange (HPX). In the present scenario, buyers and sellers at each exchange do trading of electricity and discover spot price separately at these exchanges. After coupling of exchanges, the price discovery would be uniform. In a communique to the power regulator CERC, the ministry said, "Several stakeholders approached the Ministry of Power on the subject of market coupling in the context of multiple power exchanges. "The ministry of power has decided to go ahead with the process...CERC is requested to take suitable action, so that the process of consultation and the finalisation of the construct for its implementation i
Jishnu Barua has become the new chairperson of power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). "Union Minister for Power R K Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy to Jishnu Barua, chairperson, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), here today," a power ministry statement said. Barua has been appointed chairperson of the CERC on February 27, 2023. Barua was chief secretary of Assam from October 2020 to August 2022. Prior to this, he had been additional chief secretary to Assam looking after various departments of the state from August 2017 to October 2020. Post-retirement, Barua held the charge of chairperson of Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. Barua holds M.Phil degree in Defence and Strategic Studies, PG (History) Degree and Graduation (Philosphy) degree. During his interaction with the new CERC chairperson, Singh commended the good work done by him during his stint as chairperson of the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd and said
Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has decided to fully compensate the power producers running imported coal-based plants for higher running costs required for supplying electricity under forced circumstances. The CERC order will come as a relief for imported coal-based power plants which ran to full capacity under the directions of the Ministry of Power for meeting demand. The CERC in an order on January 3, 2023, said, "In order to ensure that the Petitioner maintains and operate its plant to generate power for supply to the Procurers in compliance with the directions of the MoP (Ministry of Power) under Section 11(1) of the Act, the Commission under Section 11(2) of the Act is required to compensate the Petitioner to cover the cost plus a reasonable margin of profit." The order was passed by the CERC on a petition filed by Tata Power Company Ltd. The MoP in its letter on May 5, 2022 issued directions under Section 11 of the Electricity Act asking the