Govt dissolves Regional Power Committees (Transmission Planning) to fast-track ISTS expansion

• The present practice of going to two regional committees separately makes the process (ISTS expansion) cumbersome and delays the process of planning and approval, said the ministry
• 'Regional-level consultation for ISTS planning will be done in Regional Power Committees'

New Delhi: The Ministry of Power has issued an order to dissolve the five Regional Power Committees (Transmission Planning) in order to ease the process for the expansion of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS). Under the previous system, two simultaneous consultations were carried out with the Regional Power Committee and the Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning) for the implementation of ISTS. Terming the process "cumbersome" and holding it responsible for delays in implementation, the Power Ministry said that it has decided to dissolve the five Regional Power Committees (Transmission Planning), said an official order on Wednesday. 

"It may be noted that five Regional Power Committees (RPCs) had been constituted by Ministry of Power vide Resolution dated 25th May 2005 for five specified regions for facilitating the integrated operation of the power system in that region. The present practice of going to two regional committees separately makes the process cumbersome and delays the process of planning and approval. This is not suitable for Renewable Energy development in the country. Therefore, a decision has been taken that RPC-TP will be dissolved and RPC will be consulted for planning of ISTS system as well. The constitution and terms of reference of RPC are being suitably modified in line with the decision," said the order.

Now, Regional Power Committees will be consulted for ISTS expansion

The ministry said that regional-level consultation for ISTS planning will now be done in Regional Power Committees (RPCs). "Accordingly, five RPC-TPs viz. Eastern Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning), Western Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning), Northern Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning), Southern Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning) and North Eastern Regional Power Committee (Transmission Planning) constituted by the Ministry of Power vide Office Order No.15/3/2017-Trans, dated 04.11.2019 hereby stand dissolved and regional level consultation for ISTS planning will be done in Regional Power Committees. The constitution and terms of Reference of Regional Power Committees will be modified separately," said the order.

Process eased to boost RE deployment

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh early in October to discuss transmission issues pertaining to Renewable Energy (RE) generation. "The commitment to increase India's renewable energy (RE) target to 450 GW by 2030 was reiterated. It was noted that RE generation takes around 18 months of time for commissioning, while transmission system needs 18-24 months for commissioning. Accordingly, the need for fast tracking the transmission planning and approval process was felt," said the order.

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