The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has notified the Fourth Amendment to the Connectivity and General Network Access (GNA) Regulations, 2026, introducing changes to connectivity withdrawal, bank guarantee release, renewable energy and energy storage access, and transmission network utilisation.
The amendment allows entities to withdraw their entire connectivity quantum if the final connectivity grant is delayed by two years or more. Such entities must submit withdrawal applications within a 45-day window. Upon acceptance, applicable bank guarantees will be returned, while the application fee will be forfeited.
The revised regulations also reduce the timeline for releasing bank guarantees associated with generation capacity. These guarantees can now be released within one week after completion of one year from the declaration of the commercial operation date (COD), replacing the earlier five-year period.
For renewable energy generating stations and energy storage systems (ESS) with capacities of 50 MW and above, the amendment introduces connectivity provisions for non-solar hours at substations where transmission margins are available. Energy storage systems seeking such connectivity must have a minimum energy capacity equivalent to twice their power capacity.
The amendment further recognises General Network Access (GNA) transfers following asset acquisitions and permits large consumers to obtain dual connectivity to inter-state and intra-state transmission networks, subject to a minimum connectivity quantum of 50 MW.
The regulatory changes are expected to improve flexibility in transmission connectivity, facilitate renewable energy and energy storage integration, and support more efficient utilisation of India’s inter-state transmission network.
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