The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has extended the Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD) for Mounting Renewable Power Limited’s (MRPL) 250 MW wind-solar hybrid power project in Gujarat to June 30, 2026. The Commission has also approved a 100% waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for the 174.9 MW capacity commissioned by the revised deadline.
The decision was issued on October 26, 2026, following a petition filed by MRPL along with Welspun Living Limited and Welspun Corp Limited. The petitioners sought relief under the CERC (Sharing of Inter-State Transmission Charges and Losses) Regulations, 2020, citing delays caused by circumstances beyond their control.
The project is located in Jamnagar district, Gujarat, and is intended to supply renewable electricity to commercial consumers, including Welspun Living and Welspun Corp. The companies entered into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with MRPL in February 2024. The project was initially planned for completion by mid-2025, in line with connectivity arrangements at the Bhachau substation.
However, project execution was affected by heavy rainfall, the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, right-of-way disputes during transmission line construction, delays in government land allotments and pending land-use approvals in Gujarat. These challenges disrupted construction activities and pushed back the commissioning schedule.
The petitioners approached an independent committee established under the CERC regulations to assess delays in renewable energy projects. After examining project progress reports and land acquisition details, the committee issued its report on June 19, 2026, recommending an extension until June 30, 2026. The recommendation represented the maximum permissible extension of two six-month periods under the 2020 regulations.
CERC subsequently accepted the committee’s recommendations. By the revised deadline, MRPL had completed trial runs and achieved commercial operation for 174.9 MW of the planned 250 MW capacity. This included 115.5 MW of wind power and 59.4 MW of solar power.
The remaining 75 MW capacity was reported to be at an advanced stage of construction, with phased completion planned through August 2026. However, the transmission charge waiver approved by the Commission is limited to the capacity that achieved commercial operation on or before June 30, 2026.
The Commission’s bench comprised Chairperson Jishnu Barua and Members Ramesh Babu V., Harish Dudani and Ravinder Singh Dhillon. It directed the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) to verify the commercial operation certificates before implementing the approved waiver.
The order provides regulatory clarity for MRPL and its power purchasers by linking the transmission charge exemption to verified commissioning milestones. It also establishes the extent of relief available for the operational portion of the hybrid project while the remaining capacity progresses towards completion.
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