On 7th August 2026, the Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission published the draft Bihar Electricity Grid Code 2026 and invited comments from stakeholders. The draft document rightly notes that the State Grid Code is a key regulation and significantly impacts all stakeholders connected to the intra-state grid, including the generation companies. This update to the State Grid Code is crucial towards reflecting the changing operations and priorities of the sector.

Prayas (Energy Group) submitted comments specific to coal-based thermal generators, aimed at transparency and ensuring efficacy in operations. They included:

• Ensuring target technical minimum of 40% and ramp rates in line with CEA (Flexible Operation of coal based Thermal Generating Units) Regulations 2023, are considered for testing of sustained operations and penalising power generators that do not demonstrate the requisite ramping and technical minimum capabilities within the timelines set out by the CEA phasing plan
• Defining peak and off-peak hours and high/low demand seasons based on net demand, and not total demand, and also amending the state tariff regulations to encourage availbility from coal-based generators when they are actually needed most
• Introducing regulatory provisions to address impact of MoP LPS Rules Amendment 2024 on generator operations and cost recovery, and mandating the publication of details regarding URS capacity of generators on the generator’s website periodically, say every month
• Requiring more transparency from the SLDC, including publishing monthly lists of those generating entities that have not been able to demonstrate declared capability and have incurred penalties and daily block wise generation and ramping data for each scheduled generator