Before the MAHARASHTRA ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION World Trade Centre, Centre No.1, 13Th Floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005 Tel
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Before the MAHARASHTRA ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION World Trade Centre, Centre No.1, 13th Floor, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005 Tel. 022 22163964/65/69 Fax 22163976 Email: [email protected] Website: www. merc.gov.in CASE No. 24 of 2020 Case of WinIndia Ventures Pvt Ltd seeking directions against Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd as well as nodal agency Maharashtra Energy Development Authority for in- ordinate delay in implementing Government of Maharashtra’s RE Policy dated 20 July, 2015 and Methodology for registration of projects dated 9 September, 2015 w.r.t its 1.5 MW Wind Project. WinIndia Ventures Pvt Ltd ……Petitioner V/s Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd.. Maharashtra Energy Development Agency ….Respondents Appearance For the Petitioner :Shri Roshan Tanna ( Adv.) For the Respondent No-1 :Shri Harinder Toor ( Adv.) For the Respondent No-2 :Shri Manoj Pise (Rep.) Coram I.M. Bohari, Member Mukesh Khullar, Member ORDER Date: 3 July 2020 1. M/s WinIndia Ventures Pvt Ltd (WIVPL) has filed this Case dated 23 January 2020 seeking directions against Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL) as well as nodal agency Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA) for in ordinate delay in implementing Government of Maharashtra’s RE Policy dated 20 July, 2015 and methodology for registration of projects dated 9 September, 2015 w.r.t its 1.5 MW Wind Project. 2. Main Prayers of WIVPL are as follows: Order in Case No.24 of 2020 Page 1 a) Hold and declare that the Petitioner is entitled to be treated under the reserved capacity of 1500 MW under the Renewable Energy policy dated 20th July, 2015 issued by the Government of Maharashtra as it was commissioned on 23.12.2014 under the RE policy of 2008 after achievement of 2000 MW under the said 2008 Policy; b) Hold and declare that both MSEDCL and MEDA have not interpreted clause 11, 12, 14 and 15.1 of the Methodology for registration of projects dated 9th September 2015 issued by the Government of Maharashtra in the correct perspective; c) Hold and declare that under clause 11, 12 & 15.1 of the Methodology for registration of projects dated 9th September, 2015 issued by the Government of Maharashtra, the Petitioner’s project was required to be given first priority under the reserved capacity of 1500 MW as the Petitioners project already stood commissioned on 23.12.2014 under the RE policy of 2008 after achievement of 2000 MW; d) Hold and Declare that MSEDCL was duty bound to enter into an EPA and get the project registered as per Clause 11and 15.1 of the Methodology for registration of projects dated 9th September, 2015 issued by the Government of Maharashtra as the Petitioners project already stood commissioned on 23.12.2014 under the RE policy of 2008 after achievement of 2000 MW; e) Hold and declare that MSEDCL cannot utilize the power injected by the Petitioner towards RPO under the 2015 RE Policy, without entering into a mandatory EPA; f) Direct MSEDCL to enter into an EPA with Petitioner w.e.f 23.12.2014 i.e. date of commissioning of the project and comply with the GOM RE Policy and Methodology, 2015 in true letter and spirit. g) In the alternative direct MSEDCL to compensate the Petitioner to the tune of Rs. 13,64,78,327-/- for the period 23.12.2014- December, 2019 (Principal Amount- Rs. 10,02,24,374 + 15% Interest Amount- Rs. 3,62,53,953-/-) for the power injected by it only after a valid consent and the permission to commission dated 03.11.2014 and commissioning certificate dated 23.12.2014 issued by MSEDCL; h) Direct MSEDCL to furnish the following data/information for better adjudication of the present dispute: (i) List of Generators accounted under the 1500 MW capacity. (ii) Whether Petitioner’s power has been accounted towards fulfillment of RPO? (iii) Whether MSEDCL has entered into an EPA with other generators who were registered after the Petitioner’s project i.e after Registration No. 61/2014-15 (G)? (iv) Whether MSEDCL has entered into an EPA with any generator without there being a Registration Certificate? (v) Methodology followed by MSEDCL in treatment of wind generators commissioned under the earlier RE Policy of 2008 after achievement of 2000 MW. Order in Case No.24 of 2020 Page 2 i) Direct MEDA to furnish the following data/information for better adjudication of the present dispute: (i) List of Generators accounted under the 1500 MW capacity. (ii) Whether Petitioner’s power has been accounted towards fulfillment of RPO? (iii) When Registration Certificate is registered with Registration No. 61/2014-15 (G), then why the project has not been considered under the 1500 MW? (iv) Methodology followed by MEDA in treatment of wind generators commissioned under the earlier RE Policy of 2008 after achievement of 2000 MW. (v) Last Windmill Registration Number considered under the reserved capacity of 1500 MW? (vi) Date on which the reserved capacity of 1500 MW got over? (h) Initiate a thorough enquiry in the arbitrary manner in which the 1500 MW reserved capacity under the 2015 RE Policy has been exhausted by MSEDCL and MEDA and take appropriate action thereafter including but not limited to deregistering MEDA as the nodal agency as it has failed to perform its duties diligently. (i) Initiate appropriate action against MSEDCL and MEDA for violating the Policies of Government of Maharashtra more specifically RE Policy, 2015 and clause 11, 12, 14 and 15.1 of the methodology for registration of projects dated 9th September, 2015 issued by Government of Maharashtra; 3. WIVPL in its Petition has stated as under: 3.1 The present Petition is being filed for inordinate delays by MSEDCL in implementing the Renewable Energy Policy dated 20 July 2015 issued by the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) and Methodology for registration of projects dated 9 September 2015 issued by GoM with reference to WIVPL’s wind unit of 1.5 MW. On account of such procedural delays the EPA could not be executed till date under the 1500 MW reserved for RPO under the Renewable Energy Policy. WIVPL is seeking execution of EPA under the said policy. 3.2 WIVPL owns and operates a windmill with an installed capacity of 1.5 MW located at Gat No. 488/3, Village-Devikhindi, Tal-Khanapur, District- Sangli (Site- Bhud). 3.3 The GoM issued policy for “Power Generation from Non-Conventional Sources of Energy, 2008” on 14 October 2008 which contemplated certain benefits to wind power projects up to a total aggregate capacity of 2000 MW. 3.4 The Commission vide Order dated 7 July 2014 in Case No. 100 of 2014 determined the Generic Tariff for Renewable Energy Source for FY 2014-2015. 3.5 On 3 November 2014, MSEDCL issued Permission to Commission (PTC) to WIVPL to commission its 1.5 MW wind project. In the said letter it was specifically stated by MSEDCL that MEDA’s clearance would not be required for commissioning of the windmill and MSEDCL will have the first right of refusal about purchase of this power. On 23 Order in Case No.24 of 2020 Page 3 December 2014, MSEDCL issued a Certificate regarding commissioning of WIVPL’s 1.5 MW wind project. Since the date of commissioning, WIVPL has been supplying power to the grid. 3.6 On 20 July 2015, GoM notified the New RE Policy under which 1500 MW of wind capacity was to be developed for meeting RPO. 3.7 MSEDCL vide its Notice dated 21 August 2015, called upon WIVPL to submit MEDA’s Infrastructure Clearance stating that: 2. MEDA had not issued Infrastructure Clearance (IC) then as the wind capacity addition of 2000 MW envisaged in the GOM RE Policy- 2008 was already exceeded. 3. Now, GOM has published the New Renewable Energy Policy- 2015 vide GR dated 20.07.2015 and the policy contemplates 14400 MW RE capacity addition in the state out of which 5000 MW capacity addition is expected in wind sector; 1500 MW for meeting RPO target and 3500 MW under open access sale. In view of the above, you are hereby requested to seek MEDA Infrastructure Clearance (IC) immediately so that your wind project gets aligned under the GOM RE Policy, 2015…….. 3.8 WIVPL on 20 January 2016, applied to MEDA for registration of its wind project under the RE Policy, 2015 and its Methodology dated 9 September 2015. On 18 April 2016, MSEDCL once again called upon WIVPL to submit MEDA’s Infrastructure Clearance. In that letter MSEDCL stated that: “In view of the above, you are requested to arrange to submit the Infrastructure Clearance/Registration Certificate from MEDA to this office within 15 days, failing which energy purchase agreement (EPA) will not be executed with your wind project which may please be noted.” 3.9 On 29 November 2016, MEDA issued a letter classifying WIVPL’s windmill under Wind Zone-1. On 10 May 2019, MEDA issued the Registration Certificate, registering the project under the GOM policy dated 20 July 2015 and its Methodology dated 9 September 2015 with Registration No. 61/2014-15 (G). 3.10 Period of dispute is from 23 December 2014 till date and the amount involved till filing of the Petition is Rs. 13,64,78,327 i.e. for the period from 23 December 2014 till December, 2019 (Principal Amount is Rs. 10,02,24,374 + Rs. 3,62,53,953 is Interest Amount at 15% rate) 3.11 WIVPL is entitled to a tariff of Rs.