The guidelines for implementation of solar PV based agriculture pumps, under the PM-KUSUM scheme, aims to promote deployment of RE resources across the rural grid, and implementation of grid-connected as well as off-grid irrigation pumps. The provisions related to land acquisition should not encourage large-scale conversion of the arable land thus influencing the long term food security of the country. Due to limited surplus capacity at substations, the provisions should ensure that there is no permit squatting thus preventing other potential investors to seek necessary permissions to install solar power plants. To bring greater transparency, the process and status of granting such permission including submission of EMD and PBG should be available online. Certain provisions, especially that providing for a minimum CUF(15%), lack enforceability in the absence of any penal provision for inability to meet such targets. CER's detailed opinions on the guidelines are outlined in this newsletter.UPERC Captive and Renewable Energy Generating Plants (CRE) Regulations, 2019 have addressed a number of shortcomings, particularly those related to banking and withdrawal of energy. Given the reduction in financial risk undertaken by the DISCOMs due the earlier existing disparity between the time-slots of banked and drawn energy, the applicable banking charges are very high in the economic sense, should be lowered. CERC's direction to implement Automatic Generation Control (AGC), at all thermal ISGS stations with installed capacity of 200 MW and above, and all hydro stations (more than 25 MW) excluding the Run-of-River Hydro Projects irrespective of size, is a welcome step. This should help address the grid imbalances with the growing share of variable renewable energy. Such provisions should gradually be implemented cross the state-level generators to assist the system to absorb greater share of renewable energy in the future. The multi-year tariff framework across most of the states has largely been retained as per the previous tariff cycle. Substantial changes in the consumer tariff design have not been witnessed, with few exceptions like increase in fixed charge in the tariff structure. While the tariff design should gradually reflect cost incidence, it should encourage efficiency in use. It should also provide incentive for investment in the grid and enabling environment for competition to carriage and content separation