Rec-Mechanism
1.1 The West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) designates WBSLDC as the State Agency.
1.2 The functions of the State Agency will be:
i) To adopt the procedure contained herein for accreditation of the Renewable Energy (RE) Generating Company as defined in the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (Cogeneration and Generation of Electricity from Renewable Sources of Energy) Regulations,2013 Dated 22.03.2013.
ii) To comply with the directions issued by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission from time to time and shall act in consistent with the following:
(a) procedures, rules laid by Central Agency i.e National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) for discharge of different functions as per CERC REC Regulations to the extent it is consistent with these and other Regulations of the WBERC including the REC Regulations and
(b) different regulations of the WBERC or any subsequent replacement of those regulations in future.
iii) To scrutinize and verify the documents and all other steps as may be necessary prior to the accreditation of RE generation project. Prior to accreditation, the activities to be undertaken by State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall include but not limited to the followings:
a) Verification of application
b) Review of information submitted in the application by the generating company for its completeness and accuracy.
c) Independent verification of the information submitted by the RE generators.
d) Review of information available with regard to similar renewable energy projects registered with the Central Agency i.e NLDC, if necessary.
iv) To submit recommendation for registration or reasons of rejection.
v) To extend validity of existing accreditation following due process.
vi) To revoke accreditation, following due process for revocation.
vii) To intimate accreditation of generating company to the followings:
a) The concerned generating company
b) West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission
c) Central Agency i.e NLDC
d) State Load Despatch Centre
e) The distribution company(s) in whose area the proposed RE generation project would be located.
viii) The State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall devise appropriate protocol for collection of information from various sources such as renewable energy generating companies, obligated entities, SLDC etc., on regular basis and compile such information to compute the compliance of RPO target by such obligated entities.
ix) The State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall submit quarterly status to the Commission in respect of compliance of renewable purchase obligation by the obligated entities and may suggest appropriate action to the Commission if required for compliance of the Renewable Purchase Obligation.
x) The WBERC may from time to time fix the remuneration and charges payable to the State Agency i.e WBSLDC for discharge of its functions under these regulations.
xi) If the WBERC is satisfied that the State Agency i.e WBSLDC is not able to discharge its function satisfactorily, it may by general or special order, and recording reasons in writing, designate any other agency to function as State Agency as it considers appropriate.
For the purpose of accreditation of its RE generation project, the generating company shall furnish information to the State Agency i.e WBSLDC the owner details, operator details, Generating Station details,Connectivity details with STU / DISCOM, metering details, Statutory Clearances and other details with details of fee and charges in the format as elaborated in Form-1.1 to 1.4. The declaration is to be signed by Managing Director or Chief Executive Officer or Company Secretary or authorized signatory as per format.In addition to these information State Agency i.e WBSLDC may ask some other information which it feels necessary.
The State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall grant 'Certificate of Accreditation' to the applicant fulfilling all requirements of accreditation to the satisfaction of the State Agency i.e WBSLDC in the Form-2.
4.1 The State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall grant/ undertake accreditation of those eligible entities which are proposed to be commissioned within period not exceeding 6 months from the date of application for accreditation made by the RE generator.
4.2 Once received, the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall inform the RE generator with regard to the incompleteness of the application, if any, within 5 working days.
4.3 The RE generator shall furnish the details as requested by the State Agency i.e WBSLDC within 10 working days from the date of request so as to enable State Agency i.e WBSLDC to undertake the accreditation of the generating facility.
4.4 In case the applicant fails to furnish the information requested by the State Agency i.e WBSLDC within the stipulated time frame, the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall abandon the accreditation and retain the processing fees.
4.5 The State Agency i.e WBSLDC may extend the time to furnish the details if prayed for if it is found reasonable.
4.6 The process of accreditation by the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall normally be completed within 30 working days from the date of receipt of complete information by State Agency i.e WBSLDC.
4.7 The Eligible Entity shall apply for revalidation or extension of validity of existing accreditation at least three months prior to expiry of existing accreditation.
4.8 Whenever there is change in the legal status of the Eligible Entity (e.g. change from partnership to company) the Eligible Entity shall immediately intimate the concerned State Agency i.e WBSLDC and Central Agency i.e NLDC of the same. In all other cases involving a change in the name of the Eligible Entity, only the name of the Eligible Entity shall be updated with the records of the State Agency i.e WBSLDC and the Central Agency i.e NLDC based on intimation (supported by relevant documents) given by the Eligible Entity.
The fees and charges towards processing of application and undertaking accreditation shall be as mentioned below:
5.1 One time application processing fees: Rs. 1000/- per application shall be payable at the time of submitting application for accreditation to State Agency i.e WBSLDC.
5.2 One time accreditation charges: Rs. 5000/- per application shall be payable to the State Agency i.e WBSLDC upon grant of accreditation.
5.3 Annual charges for accreditation: Rs. 1000/- per annum per application shall be payable by April 10, for each fiscal year (or each anniversary date from the date of initial accreditation).
5.4 Accreditation charges for revalidation/ extension of validity: Rs. 5000/- per application shall be payable at the time of revalidation/ extension of validity of existing accreditation at the end of five years.
5.5 Taxes and duties on fee and charges shall be applicable as per prevailing norms.
All fees and charges shall be payable by way of Electronic Clearing System (NEFT/RTGS) made in favour of WBSLDC FUND in Current A/C No. 00080350001261 of HDFC Bank Limited, Stephen House Branch,Kolkata (IFSC CODE HDFC0000008).
Event of default
Following events shall constitute event of default by Eligible Entity and shall lead to revocation of accreditation granted by State Agency i.e WBSLDC:
6.1 Non-payment or delay in payment of annual accreditation charges by Eligible Entity beyond 15 days from due date of payment of such annual accreditation charges.
6.2 Non-compliance of any of the terms/ conditions/ rules outlined under this procedure by Eligible Entity.
6.3 Non-compliance of any of the directives issued by State Agency i.e WBSLDC, so long as such directives are not inconsistent with any of the provisions of CERC REC Regulations and different Regulations of WBERC and are in accordance with the functions and within the powers outlined for State Agency i.e WBSLDC.In case such direction is inconsistent to any Regulations of WBERC, then the Regulations of the WBERC will prevail unless any specific dispensation is provided by the order of the WBERC under these regulations.
Consequences for event of default
6.4 Occurrence of any of the event of default by Eligible Entity shall result into revocation of accreditation granted to such Eligible Entity for that RE generation project.
6.5 However, the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall provide adequate notice and chance to Eligible Entity to present its case before serving the notice for termination of accreditation, which shall not be for period lower than 14 days.
6.6 In case Eligible Entity fails to address/ rectify the default expressed by the State Agency i.e WBSLDC in the notice within stipulated time period of 14 days, the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall proceed with revocation of accreditation granted to such Eligible Entity.
6.7 Upon revocation of accreditation, the State Agency i.e WBSLDC shall inform the same to the WBERC, Central Agency i.e NLDC, State Load Despatch Centre which is State Agency in this case and concerned distribution licensee, within period of 7 days from the date of such revocation.