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Maharashtra orders five entities to comply with their solar and non-solar renewable purchase obligation requirements; Tamil Nadu bans the State Load Dispatch Center from curtailing solar power at its convenience; Bihar keeps solar power tariffs unchanged from 2018-2019; Jammu and Kashmir bans civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Sundays and Wednesdays; report finds that India’s central and state governments cancelled 5,300 MW of valid winning power project bids in 2018 due to high bid rates; and more.

Center – State relations

According to a report by a consulting group Bridge to India, India’s central and state government canceled 5,300 megawatts (MW) of valid winning bids in 2018 due to high bid rates. The cancelation of such auctions for renewable energy projects has saved central and state governments $490 billion, although companies have sharply criticized the practice as anti-investor. Source: Economic Times In detail: India RE Outlook 2019

The Energy and Resources Institute released its smart energy policy brief for cities at the fourth Australia-India Knowledge Exchange event held at University of New South Wales. The policy brief titled, “Making Indian Cities Energy Smart,” aims to help Indian cities manage energy footprints and influence future carbon emissions. Source: Business Standard In detail: Making Indian Cities Energy Smart - report

Andhra Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Bihar

The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission has kept solar procurement rates unchanged from last year, keeping generic levelized tariff for power generated from solar photovoltaic (PV) for FY 2019-20 at $0.06 (Rs. 4.17) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) without accelerated depreciation. The tariff rate for solar PV with accelerated depreciation was fixed at $0.057 (Rs. 3.92) per kWh. Source: Sau Energy In detail: Tariff Order

The National Thermal Power Corporation issued a tender for the installation of 3 MW of solar power projects at its Kahalgaon unit, located in Bhagalpur district of Bihar. The last date for submission of bids is April 22, 2019. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report this week.

Gujarat

The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited awarded a $22.9 million (Rs.1.62 billion) contract to GE Transmission & Distribution India Ltd. to extend a 765 kilovolts (kV) air-insulated substation and set up a new 400 kV/220 kV gas-insulated substation at Bhuj, Gujarat. Source: Mercom In detail: Tender details

Haryana

Power discom Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam announced it divided over a dozen feeders in New Gurugram circle to double capacity and ease the burden on the power infrastructure in the city ahead of the summer season. Officials said they have also installed 62.1 miles (100 kilometers) of new low-tension cables to reduce outages, and 150 new transformers. Source: Economic Times

Tata Projects announced it received an order worth $321 million (Rs 2,182 crore) from the Nuclear Power Corporation of India. This power plant will include two units of 700 MW each and will be the company’s third contract in the nuclear power sector. Source: Live Mint In detail: Press Release

Karnataka

The Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. announced a tender for the installation of 700 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules of 230 watt-power capacity for a 3 MW solar PV power plant at Itnal Village in Belagavi district in the state. The last date of bid submission is April 10, 2019, and the tenders will be opened on April 12, 2019. Source: Sau Energy In detail: Tender details

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission ordered five entities to comply with their solar and non-solar renewable purchase obligation requirement for Financial Year (FY) 2017-18 in FY 2018-19. The entities involved are Gigaplex Estate Pvt. Ltd., Mindspace Business Parks Pvt. Ltd., Indian Railways, Tata Power Co. Ltd. (Distribution), and Brihan Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking. Source: Mercom In detail: Cases for verification of compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligations by Gigaplex Estate Pvt. Ltd., Mindspace Business Parks Pvt. Ltd., Indian Railways, Tata Power Co. Ltd. (Distribution), and Brihan Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking

The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity decided that no additional surcharge can be levied on captive users, overruling another order passed by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission in September 2018. Source: Mercom In detail: Appellate Tribunal for Electricity ruling

Rajasthan

Nothing critical to report this week.

Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission fixed the generic tariff for solar photovoltaic procurement in the state. The new tariffs will be set at $0.044 (₹3.04) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) without accelerated depreciation, and $0.04 (₹2.80) per kWh with accelerated depreciation. Source: Mercom In detail: Order on generic tariff for Solar power and related issues

In a case brought by the National Solar Energy Federation of India, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission stated that the State Load Dispatch Centre cannot curtail solar power at its convenience, adding that scaling down from the “must run status” power should be resorted to only after all other possible means of achieving and ensuring grid stability and reliable power supply are exhausted. Source: Pv-Magazine In detail: Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission order

Telangana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Uttar Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

Best of the Rest

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission issued an order for rooftop solar grid-interactive systems based on net metering. The order comes after the commission issued a draft order called the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Order, 2019, and remains largely similar. Source: Mercom In detail: HPERC (Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Order, 2019

Jharkhand

India’s largest electricity producer, the National Thermal Power Corporation, announced it has begun commercial production of coal from PakriBarwadih mine in Jharkhand. Source: Economic Times In detail: Twitter announcement

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved an independent investigation into World Bank-funded water supply project in two villages of Jharkhand. The development comes after of allegations that the district authorities “failed” to consult members of local Adivasi communities before implementing the project, “sidestepped” valid Gram Sabha consent, “used force” in the implementation of the project, and overlooked impacts on indigenous cultural resources and environmental impact. Source: Indian Express

Jammu and Kashmir

Activists from the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party protested against a decision by the Jammu and Kashmir to ban civilian traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Sundays and Wednesdays to ensure safe passage to convoys of security forces. Source: Business Standard