The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has issued the draft Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Connectivity and General Network Access to the Inter-State Transmission System) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, proposing further refinements to the existing Connectivity and General Network Access (GNA) framework governing access to the inter-state transmission system (ISTS).
The draft introduces multiple changes to connectivity and general network access framework. As per the draft installed capacity used for technical compliance at the point of injection will not be counted towards connectivity capacity for the ISTS. Moreover, energy storage system (ESS) projects must now maintain a minimum discharge capacity equivalent to two times the connectivity quantum in MWh terms. Developers may install renewable capacity solely for charging ESS without additional land or financial closure requirements. Additionally, the amendment proposes a bank guarantee requirement of Rs 0.5 million per MW for ESS projects excluding pumped storage plants.
Furthermore, the draft has introduced provisions such as “non solar hour access” for renewable and storage projects, enabling transmission access beyond usual solar generation hours. Generating stations, renewable energy generating stations, and ESS projects seeking only non-solar hour access will also be permitted to apply under revised connectivity provisions. It also introduces structured provisions for source change, including a second source change option subject to a processing fee of Rs 50,000 per MW. The framework also permits developers to withdraw connectivity applications and obtain refund of bank guarantees if connectivity is not granted or utilised within approximately 2 years, under defined conditions.
