Around 1,000 MW solar projects in Haryana are unable to transmit power because distribution companies are not giving them the required connectivity. The Distributed Solar Power Association, a body of solar rooftop developers, is likely to soon file a petition before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission protesting the power discoms’ reluctance.
All these are open-access projects where developers supply power directly to their customers through the grid without routing it through a discom. But they need the relevant discom’s consent to do so.
There are three stages of consent to open access transmission – provisional connectivity, final connectivity and final interconnection agreement. Haryana discoms have allowed Stage-I, and in some cases, Stage-II, but they are not signing the final agreement. Around 1,000 MW of Stage-I approval has been granted, so they should allow that 1,000 MW to go through.
Developers have been approaching Haryana power officials at all levels to no avail. Applications have been stalled since October 2019. The power purchase agreement (PPA) has been signed with the customer, investors lined up, the EPC contract is in place, but it is stuck at Stage-I connectivity.
