HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LTD. (A State Government Undertaking) Reginered Ofce ‘bu Ban, Ka ou, Sn 171008 ‘Crp ety No(CIN) ' UAdiosHP2O09SCIC08 1285 ost. TIPSERL 08 AACCHAROAEH “lepine No 77240600, 2801675 2688984CF) rl Adis: Snultsehin & sissorfahosehin Website AStress ‘sents No. HPSEBL/CEOCZ/M(_-25/2022-28- 1203.2-40 Dated:- 3}.\0.2022 To All the Superintending Engineers, Under this zone, ‘Meeting to discuss various issues as per agenda in HPERC on 16.11.2022. Chief Engineer (Comm.] vide this office letter No. HPSEBL/CE-(comm,)/SERC-11/2022-23-11861- 65 dated 29.10.2022 (copy enclosed) has conveyed to this office that Hon'ble HPEPC shail hold a meeting on 16/11/2022 with management and the desired data needs fo be submitted fo Hon'ble Commission by 10/11/2022. So it is requested to submit the same to this office by 5/11/2022 positively so that the same can be further secuttized & discussed with you before its submission fo Chief Engineer (Comm.) “Matter Urgent” D/A: A/A Engineer (Operation), Certral Zone, HPSEBL, Mandi. Copy to:- 1. The Sr. PS to Managing Director, HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimia-4 for kind information of worthy Managing Director please. 2. The Sr. PS Ditector (Op}, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimia-4 for kind informati please. 3. The Chief Engineer (Comm,), HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimia-s for inforhnation, please. of worthy Director{Tech), wineer (Operation), I Zone, HPSEBL, Mandi.REGISTERED OFFICE :- VIDYUT BHAWAN, HPSEBL, SHIMLA-171004 (HLP.) CIN: U40109HP2009SGC031255 | GST NO:O2AACCH4894EHZB PHONE NO. : 0177-2656624 (OFFICE) 2603315(FAX) Website:www.hpseb.com Email: cecomm@hpseb.in No.HPSEBLICE-(Comm. SERC-11/2022: - | (Belo Dated: Sq. [p-2022 To The Chief Engineers(Operation), HPSEBL, South/CentralNorth Zone, Shimla/Mandi/Dharmshala, Sub: Meeting to discuss various issues as per agenda in HPERC on 16.11.2022. Sis, ‘A meeting to discuss various issues as per agenda has been scheduled to be held on 16.11.2022 at 11:30 ‘AM in the HPERC with the Management of HPSEBL. Hon'ble Commission has desired to submit the status in advance by 10.11.2022 The Agenda Item Nos. IV, Vil, Xil() & XIll(ii.v.v) pertaining to your offices are enclosed herewith as Annexure-A, Commission has also taken a serious view upon non submission of reply/action taken report within time for HPERC Matters. You are requested fo look into the matter personally and submit the comprehensive report ‘on agenda items and valid explanation for delay in addressing HPERC matters despite of repeated reminders an oF before 5" Nov 2022 strcty since the matter has to be deliberated at HPSEBL Management level prior to rer ra HPERC by 10.11.2022 \, Matter Stark Urgent. With regards Chief Engineer (Comm,) HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimla 171004, Copy forwarded to following: 1.1. PS to MD HPSEBL for information of MD HPSEBL. 2, Sr. PS to Dir (Op) HPSEBL fo information of Dip.) HPSEBL M4, ve) jot 2 Chief Engineer (Comm.) ops. HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, 2 Shimla -171004,Agenda Item ao whole quarterly and he consulidated indicus values should form part of the report to be submitted under the said Regulations, Also, the Rule 10 of Electricity (Right 19 Consumer) Rules, 2020 provides as under: "10, Reliability of supply. (1) The distribution Heenaee shail supply 24x7 power fa all consumers. However, the Commission may specify lower hours of spply for some eategories of consumers tike agriaitture (1) The Commussion shail specify the following parameters to maintain the reliabitity of supply by the distnbutien toensee; namely fa} totat duration and frequency of outages per consumer in a year , Sysiern average tmtermapiion duration index (SAIDI} bb. System average mierruption feoquemey index (SAIFN, the mintinum oxsiage time fin minaiies) that the distrbution licensee hull consider for the ealewlation of SAihI ar SAIFI, as the case may be (2) Tha distribution licensee shall put in place a mechanism, preferably with automated tools to the extent pussibie, for monslonay una resionngs a ee (5) The State Comamission shall have an online mechanism for reviewing and monitoring of reliability indices of distribution Heensies and such Commission may consider a separote reliabilty charge for the ddistrbution company, if they require funds for investment in the Ingrastructire for ensuring the relabibiy of supply to the consumers,” To fix the benchmarked Reliability Indices (I8l) of operation circles nd consolidated Indices of the distribution licensee, the HPSEBL shall submit the trajectory of next threc to five years, as per historical data so that the Commission may fix the same accordingly. Non submission of report in respect of payments to Domestic Consumers for the Energy credits from Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System at the close of settlement period. ‘The Commission vide letter dated 10.02.2022 directed the Chief gineursiOp), HPSEBL to ensure payments to Domestic Consumers for the Energy credits trom Rooftop Solar PV Grid Interactive System at the clase of settlement period as per the provisions of the HPERC (Roof Top Solar PY Grid Interactive System based on Net Metering) Regulations, 2015 under intimation to the Commission. A meeting was also held on 7% May, 2022 with the Chief Engineers of operation wing of HPSEBL and decided that the HPSEBL shall settle all the ponding dues of consumers/ prosuners by 30.06.2022. Later, the Commission had also sought an action taken report in the matter ie. release of payment/udjustment to the entitled consumers vide letters lated 17.05.2022 and 24.08.2022, A report in this respect has been submitted by the Chief Engineer (Op), Cental Zone, HPSEBL, Mandi only. As per the report, payment has been made to the consumers for the last two years Brose A )Agenda a Item-v while the same for FY 2021-22 is still-held up on account of drasving limit sought from the F&A Wing, Te ie pertinent to meniion bore that the Sub-regulation (5) of Regulation 10 of HPERC Solar Rooftop Regulations provides that the distwbution licensee shall make payment to the eligible consumer, by way_of adjusiment in, the electricity bills, (or, the siechriclly credits, if any, remaining unadjusted at the end of the settlement period, at the rates mentioned in Sub-regulation (9) of the ibid Regulations, HPSEBL shall furnish comprchensive details on the status of release to payment to the eligible prosumers (or energy credits, if ‘The 2” amendment of aforesaid Regulations provide that the prosumers shall be given an option for settlement of the energy generated from their Solr Roof Top Plants under any of the three arrangements viz, Net Melering arrangement, Net-Billing arrangement or Group Net Metering arrangement, Ia view of above, HPSEBL is required to sensitize the existing and prospecting prosumers about the available arrangements besides, malting, arrangements for appropriate metering and billing in its billing sofiware accordingly ‘The HPSEBL shall apprise the Commission of the present starus ahd any such sensitization programmes conducted, if any Online monitoring of mew connections released and applications pending for reloase of connection, A Commitice was constituted by the Commission vide order No. HPERC-(1}-19-CGRF-2147-2168 dated 8" October, 2021, to study the effectiveness of consumer grievances redressal mechanism comprising the ollicer of the Commission and Superintending Engineeris} of respective operation circle and Sr. XEN of divisions ie, Baddi, Paonta, Glumarwin, Shahpur, Chopal and Mandi Based on the visit to these divisions and further consultation with the ficld officcrs/staff, the committee bas made certain wendations where action is solicited from the HPSEBI.. ‘The Commission vide letter No. HPERC-40 )-Vol-VTN 1 dated 15% June, 2022 forwarded the recommendations of the Committee with dirgetion to initiate appropriate action on each matter and submit @ detailed report thereon to the Commission by 30m Septernber, 2022, The HPSEI matter nlory Lis required to submit the action taken report in each tion tracking system provision on theAgenda Itcm-VI_ Details of initlative undertaken for State Level Smart Grid Mission. The Commission may initiate the process of drafting the Regulations of Smart Grid based on the Model Smart Grid Regulations formulated by the Forum of Regulators. Before finalising the draft Regulations for prior publication, the Commission vide fetter No. HPERC-I/}16/Smart Grid/ 1253-54 dated 29.08.2019 requested the HPSRBL to send detailed initiatives undertaken by the State Level Smart Grid Mission {SLSGM) enabling the Commission to finalize the draft regulations, ‘The isstie was also discussed in the meeting held on 23.11.2019. ‘the officers of HPSEBL stated that under State Level Smart Grid | Mission, latest system improvement worth US $134 million for Electricity Distribtion Efficiency which envisages Smart Grid attributes for all 12 towns of AP have becn proposed, Later the matier was again discussed iu the meeting held on 03.03.2021. During the course of the mecting, MPSEBL conveyed. that an amount of Rs 478.00 Crores has been earmarked for Smart Grid project and period of 5 years has been estimated for completion of the same. HPSEBL shall share the present status and the plan of implementation of the project Agendw Stem-VII_ Proposal to fix the normative O&M charges of bay for Small Hydro Projects connected to distribution system of HPSEBL. { ‘The Commission has directed the HPSEBI, to submit a proposal on subject cited matter. Accordingly, based on the recommendations of Committee constituted by the Siate Government, the HPSEBL has submitted the same vide CE (Commercialj office letter No. HPSEBL/CE-(Comm,)/SERC-54/2022-23-5809 dated 04.07.2022 for approval of the Commission. After serutiny, certain observations were conveyed lo he HPSEBL. on 05,08,2022 with directions to submit the revised proposal. A reminder was also issued to submit the said revised proposal by i 30! September, 2022. However, the same is still awaited. \ The proposel after attending the observations is required to be submitted to the Con Agenda Item-VI Proposal to curb high losses/pllferage of Energy. The Commission vide lutter NO. HPERC 401 Vol VIH-980-81 dated 25.07.2022 directed the HPSEBL to submit the following detail by 6% Aagust, 2022 (i) List of High Loss pockets identified by the HPSEBL, i) Number of meters shifted outside the consumer premises in loss making pockets alongwith proposed action plan for such shilling to minimize the pillerage/ losses. (iti) Report(s) of Energy audit(s} undertaken, if any, in respect of pilferage of energy to curb out the high losses. 5pintform of power exthanges during monsoon period. This vemitin ig dive to the fet that 85% of the power procured by PISESL is from hydro generation. Therelore, HPSEBL has to plan its power procurement and sumpkas sales ip such @ manny eoans im have minimen losses and ensure that it has mix of all generation jn iis portfolio because relying on a single source may bbe risky proposition. 0) Management of Surplus Energy: ‘The HPSEBL has been sated te sell the surplus cncrgy available with it al an Ceonomically benelicial price to the maximum extent possible Further, the Commission had directed the HPSEBL to conduct a Hush, based on the surplus energy during the peak and off pens Hane da year and scnsenal variation in ihe peak and off-peate Consuntation levels, ‘the ousput of the study should be able to (lkeate the Consumer categories wha can plan and shift their Tonal te off peal hours. Findings of the study should be used by Hee unsent, to. submit a comprehensive | propasal for tnedification review of ToD tariff dispensation, along with next Tani Petition, The status in this regard needs to be updated. im) Statue of Capital works in progress and | status of Capitalization: Disuibution network is the backbone of Sezipution atility. The Commission had approved a capital Cependliture of rupees: 2473 crore for the fourths contro! period {riod te FY24L-The physies! and financial progress achieved by WOStettl, sa far ih respect of Capital works against Uae approved amount needa to be updated. in} Non-filing of Mid-term Review along with traing-up for ehird Control Period for generation fonction Considering that the third Control Period is over and accounts fon the perind is available, the HPSEBL was directed to submit the potion for Mid-term Review along with truing-up for third Control Period for the generation business by 31 December 2021, This would ensure timely adjustment of surplus/gap in the tariff for subsequent period, But, the said petition is still awaited [rom HPSEBL. Agenda itom-Xill Miscellaneous issue: (i), “Publicity of particulars of Grete level CORFe. fi’ Status of real time voice and data communication syste buy the power gencrating plants directly selling the power to the HPSEBI GiiL Reportis) of safety audit {iv}. Detait ceport of solid/tabing [provided in the distribution system to the consumers, Status of Bnetay audit i 40(hy) “a (i) ‘The HPSEBL needs w up © the Commission about the trend of ‘T&D losses for FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23, Also, the steps taken to reduce the TG? losses by HPSEDL be elaborated. Principal and Interest payment towards UDAY Bonde: One of the main purposes of the UDAY scheme was the financial turnaround of the DISCOMs, If the burden of Bond’s repayment and its interest cost are still to be borne by the HPSEBL then the HPSEBL will not be able to come out (rom its losses and its financial viability will get severcly hampered. Therefore, the Commission has excluded the amount of interest on the UDAY bonds for PY23 and FY24. The HPSEBL was directed to take up the matter with the State Government for taking over the interest end repayment Habllities of these bonds and reimburse the interest paid on these bonds es per the tripartite agreement. The status in this regard needs to be updated. Subsidy payments by Government of Ilimachal Pradesh: The GoHP has announced the subsidized rate of electricity for certain section of the Consumers, The Commission in the tariff order hhas dizected that the subsidy amount shall be paid in advance by GolIP to the HPSEBL as per the provisions of Section 65 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and reconciled after every quarter. HPSEBL was directed to submit quarterly report regarding the payment of subsidy as well as the outstanding amount; if any, to the Commission, HPSEBL of Inte bas requested the Commission to clarify about the rate of interest to be levied on HPSEBL in case the subsidy amount is not reccived in time. The issue needs to be discussed and HPSEBL must provide the quarterly formation of subsidy amount realized vis-d-vis claim for the current financial year as sought in the tariff order as well Further, in case the State Government fails to pay the subsidy, fas per the provisions of Section 65 of the Act, the tarifi announced after subsidy shall stand reverted back to the origin: tarill, as approved by the Commission in the tariff order. Status of Outstanding Dues of HPSEBL: The Commission in the lariff order dated 29.03.2022 for HPSEBL hes directed HPSEBL to provide the detailed action plan to recover such outstanding dues towards the various Consumers of the period, greater than 1 year along with the issues and amount invulved, within a period of three months of issuance of the Order. The same is still awaited. The Commission be updated about the outstanding dues in the meeting Power Procurement planning and strategy: HPSEBL of late has come up with PPAs for procurement of power citing reasons with growing demand in the State. For prudent, efficient and cost efiective management of procurement und disposal of surplus power, HPSEBL needs to act in a professional manner keeping in view the commercial aspects in mind, Power purchase is the main cast in the ARR of HPSEBL. Power Procurement planning and strategy hes to be such that it not only fulfil the demand of the State but also have some contingency reserves as wel Presently, HPSEBL is having power surplus during summer/ monsoon’ months and is deficit during winter months. Due to which it has to sell its surplus power at throwaway prices at the