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Big News

Tamil Nadu stops conducting auctions for wind and solar energy projects following poor response to its tenders; Telangana releases a draft Blockchain Policy; Maharashtra announces progress on the Maharashtra Land Titling Act, which will create a single-window mechanism for the registration and authentication of land titles; Himachal Pradesh sets new generic tariffs for solar photovoltaic projects for the first six months of FY 2019-2020 (between April 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019); and more.

Center – State relations

Nothing critical to report this week.

Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has approved a solar rooftop program proposed by the Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited. Source: Mercom In detail: APERC Order

Bihar

Nothing critical to report this week.

New Delhi

Nothing critical to report this week.

Gujarat

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd emerged as the winner of an auction conducted by the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited for 1,000 megawatts (MW) of projects to be built at Dholera solar park. Tata Power quoted a tariff rate of $0.0395 (Rs. 2.75) per unit. Source: Economic Times

Haryana

Nothing critical to report this week.

Karnataka

Nothing critical to report this week.

Madhya Pradesh

Nothing critical to report this week.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has given fossil fuel-based co-generation projects in Maharashtra until March 2020 to fulfill their renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets. The order effectively rolls over the projects’ RPO obligations from between 2016 and 2019 until the fiscal year 2019-20. Source: Mercom In detail: MERC Order

The Maharashtra State Marketing Directorate has ordered private markets in the state to upload their daily sales reports on the website of Directorate, failing which they stand to lose their licences. Source: Financial Express In detail: Maharashtra State Marketing Directorate website

The Maharashtra government announced it will proceed with introducing the Maharashtra Land Titling Act, which will create a single-window mechanism for the registration and authentication of land titles in the state. Maharashtra’s move could be a pilot for a national rollout of online land title records with the central government. Source: Business Standard

Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) dismissed petitions filed by captive solar project developers seeking relief from applicable wheeling and banking charges. The developers had filed separate petitions regarding the methodology adopted by distribution companies for the levy of wheeling charges. Source: Mercom In detail: RERC Order

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, one of India’s biggest renewable energy producing states, announced it will stop conducting auctions for wind and solar energy projects following poor response to its tenders which set limits on tariffs. Instead, it will buy clean power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to fulfil its Renewable Purchase Obligation. Source: Economic Times

The Tamil Nadu government released an ordinance to extend – by another four months – the deadline for registrations under the Tenancy Act. The deadline has been extended due to poor registrations under the act. The Tamil Nadu Regulations of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, mandates registration of rental or lease agreements following its implementation. Source: Times of India

Telangana

The government of Telangana has released its draft Blockchain Policy, which highlights the frameworks being established for the blockchain ecosystem in the state, as well as concept designs for India’s first blockchain district. Source: Telangana Today In detail: Draft Telangana Blockchain Policy

Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Limited launched I-Health, a digital platform to expedite and scale the revival of sick micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the manufacturing sector. The platform was developed in partnership with Microsoft, and will allow sick MSEs to register themselves for support in case their financial condition is poor. Source: KNN In detail: Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Limited (TIHCL) portal

State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited announced it has commissioned two more pumping units of 116 MW each at the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project in Telangana. Source: Economic Times

Uttar Pradesh

The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) approved a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed between Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) and Accord Hydroair (Pikhuwa) Private Limited. UPPCL will purchase power produced from municipal solid waste-based projects at Pipalheda village and Phikuwa village at a tariff rate of $0.103 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Source: Mercom In Detail: UPERC Order for the Pikhuwa village project, and for the Pipalheda village project

West Bengal

Nothing critical to report this week.

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Himachal Pradesh

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) settled a dispute regarding the determination of tariff rates for a hydroelectric project in Himachal Pradesh. Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited had filed a petition seeking to revise the tariff rates between 2009 and 2014 for a 1,500 MW hydroelectric project at the Nathpa Jhakri project. Source: Mercom In detail: CERC Order

The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission set generic tariffs for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects at between $0.057 and $0.058 (Rs. 3.94 to Rs. 4.06) per kWh. This tariff rate will be applicable in cases where the joint petition for the approval of a PPA has been submitted to the HPERC on or after April 1, 2019, but not later than September 30, 2019, and also those solar PV projects that have been commissioned on or before March 31, 2021. Source: Sau Energy In detail: Determination of generic levelised tariffs for Solar PV Projects for first six months of FY 2019-20

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) has approved the procurement of 10 MW of solar PV power by Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited from the Solar Energy Corporation of India. The commission has set a tariff rate of $0.079 (Rs. 5.50) per kWh for a period of 25 years. Source: Mercom In detail: JSERC Order