ORDER

The instant Petition has been filed by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for truing-up of the transmission tariff for the 2019-24 period, in accordance with the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as “the 2019 Tariff Regulations”), and for the determination of transmission tariff for the 2024-29 period under the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2024 (hereinafter referred to as “the 2024 Tariff Regulations”) for the following assets (hereinafter referred to as “the transmission asset/Combined Asset”) under “Supplementary Transmission System for Ultra Mega Solar Power Park (700 MW) at Banaskantha (Radhanesda), Gujarat” (hereinafter referred to as the “transmission project”) in the Western Region:

4 numbers 220 kV line bays at 400/220 kV at Banaskantha (Radhanesda) Pooling Station

2. The Petitioner has made the following prayers in the instant Petition:

“a) Approve the trued-up Transmission Tariff for 2019-24 block and transmission tariff for 2024-29 block for the assets covered under this petition, as per para 15 and 16 above.

b) Admit the capital cost claimed, and additional capitalization incurred during 2019-24 and de cap in 2024-29 tariff block.

c) Allow the petitioner to recover the shortfall or refund the excess Annual Fixed Charges, on account of Return on Equity due to change in applicable Minimum Alternate/Corporate Income Tax rate as per the Income Tax Act, 1961 (as amended from time to time) of the respective financial year directly without making any application before the Commission as provided in Tariff Regulations 2019 and Tariff Regulations, 2024 as per para 15 and 16 above for respective block.

d) Approve the reimbursement of expenditure by the beneficiaries towards petition filing fee, and expenditure on publishing of notices in newspapers in terms of Regulation 94 (1) Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2024, and other expenditure (if any) in relation to the filing of petition.

e) Allow the petitioner to bill and recover RLDC fees & charges and Licensee fee separately from the respondents in terms of Regulation 94 (3) and (4) Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2024.

f) Allow the petitioner to bill and adjust impact on Interest on Loan due to change in Interest rate on account of floating rate of interest applicable during 2024-29 period, if any, from the respondents.

g) Allow the petitioner to file a separate petition before the Commission for claiming the overall security expenses and consequential IOWC on that security expenses as mentioned at para 21 above.

h) Allow the petitioner to file a separate petition before the Commission for claiming the overall insurance expenses and consequential IOWC on that insurance expenses as mentioned at para 21 above.

i) Allow the petitioner to file a separate petition before the Commission for claiming the overall capital spares at the end of tariff block as per actual as mentioned at Para 21 above.

j) Allow the petitioner to claim expenses of CTUIL borne by POWERGRID through a separate petition as mentioned at para 22 above.

k) Allow the Petitioner to bill and recover GST on Transmission Charges separately from the respondents, if GST on transmission is levied at any rate in future. Further, any taxes including GST and duties including cess etc. imposed by any statutory/Govt./municipal authorities shall be allowed to be recovered from the beneficiaries.

and pass such other relief as the Commission deems fit and appropriate under the circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice.

Background

3. The brief facts of the case are as follows:

(a) The Petitioner has been entrusted with the implementation of the transmission project and Supplementary Transmission project for Ultra Mega Solar Power Park (700