CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to the inter-State Transmission System) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2026

CERC has notified its fourth amendment to the ISTS connectivity and GNA rules, finalising the draft of May 2026. It lets developers exit stalled connectivity grants with their bank guarantees back, releases guarantees far sooner after commissioning, and adds non-solar-hour access for storage and renewables.

What changes

1. Developers may withdraw their full connectivity, get all bank guarantees back and forfeit only the application fee, where the final grant came two years or more after the in-principle grant (or never came); the request is due within 45 days, and the nodal agency must decide within 15 days.
2. Generation-linked bank guarantees are returned within a week of one year after commercial operation, instead of in five yearly parts.
3. Storage seeking connectivity must have at least twice its MW rating in MWh; renewables or storage of 50 MW and above may seek non-solar-hour access at listed substations, which CTUIL will update monthly.
4. Land bank guarantee for battery storage set at Rs 5 lakh/MW; sub-leases within a corporate group or of leased government land now count as land documents.
5. Notice before the firm connectivity start date cut from 18 months to 6; a second change of energy source allowed for Rs 20,000/MW or Rs 10 lakh, whichever is higher.
6. GNA can be transferred with an acquired load or commissioned plant, and drawee entities may hold dual connections to the ISTS and the state grid; CTUIL must revise its Detailed Procedure within 60 days.

Who is affected

RE developers · BESS developers · CTUIL · Bulk consumers · STUs · Discoms

Entities whose withdrawal window has already lapsed get 30 days from the amendment taking effect to seek full withdrawal.

Sources

• CERC notification, 11 Nov 2026 (official)OFFICIAL
• Power Peak Digest, 13 Nov 2026

Last checked 13 November 2026. Summary for information; rely on the official gazette text.