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The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) addressed the petition filed by Suzlon Global Services Limited. The company sought a mechanism for implementing the Commission’s earlier Tariff Order dated 31 August 2024, by relaxing the requirement to install Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) at each Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) in Gujarat.
Suzlon argued that real-time transmission of five key operational parameters directly from the wind turbines should be considered sufficient for grid monitoring and scheduling purposes, thereby eliminating the need for RTUs at each WTG. The Commission had previously granted interim relief to Suzlon on 17 December 2024, instructing the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) to accept the five parameters: MW, MVAR, Voltage (R-Y Phase), Frequency, and Circuit Breaker Status (Double time). This relief allowed project commissioning without installing additional devices if these parameters could be transmitted from the turbine directly.
After the interim relief, other developers like KP Energy, ACME Pokharan Ltd, and Rajpur Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd., who were also using Suzlon-manufactured turbines, approached the Commission for similar relief. GERC extended the same interim relief to them, citing regulatory consistency and technical adequacy of the five parameters.
Suzlon fulfilled all procedural requirements, including amending the Memo of Parties and furnishing the necessary undertakings to SLDC. However, SLDC later insisted on adding four more parameters beyond what was mentioned in the Commission’s interim order. Despite this being outside the scope of the original directive, Suzlon provisionally agreed to explore technical feasibility for these additional data points, without waiving its rights in the ongoing main petition.
During the hearing on 29 May 2025, SLDC reported that it had started receiving one parameter from Suzlon turbines and requested one month to evaluate its compatibility. Petitioners objected, pointing out that the Commission had already ruled on the sufficiency of the five parameters. GERC acknowledged these concerns and expressed unease about shifting compliance expectations and delays caused by SLDC.
To avoid repeated litigation and project delays, the Commission clarified that any wind project using Suzlon turbines that can transmit the five approved parameters directly would be allowed to proceed with commissioning without further scrutiny. GERC emphasized uniform application of its earlier relief and directed that no coercive action be taken against compliant developers, including withholding energy settlement or denying grid access.
The Commission also noted a complaint from Bajarang Green Energy, a retail investor who had commissioned a Suzlon turbine in February 2025 under interim relief but later received a notice from SLDC demanding additional parameters. GERC clarified that only the original five parameters should be considered valid until a final decision is made in the main petition.
To streamline future cases, the Commission ruled that any developer complying with the order dated 17 December 2024 may proceed with the commissioning of WTGs, provided an undertaking is submitted, pending the final judgment in related petitions.
The main petition will be heard separately, and the interim order remains in force until then.
