Subject

Round Table discussion on 'Open Access Issues' (17.08 MB)

Time

6 pm to 9 pm, March 26, 2008 (Wednesday) at Conference Hall-II, India International Centre (Main Building), New Delhi.

Programme Convener

Shri R V Shahi, Former Secretary, Ministry of Power  (4.11 MB)

Programme Panelists

Shri J. L. Bajaj, Former Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) (8.08 MB)

Shri Shashi Shekhar, Director, PTC India Ltd. (5 MB)

Shri S K Soonee, Executive Director (System  Operation & NRLDC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) [Download Presentation] (13 MB)

Discussion Agenda

Continuing its monthly Thought Leadership Discussions on energy issues, InfralineEnergy, in association with IDFC, are conducting a high level interactive Round Table (eighth in the series) to provide a platform to various stakeholders to discuss the various issues related to Open Access. The earlier interactive discussion rounds have received phenomenal response with overwhelming participation of delegates from various segments of the energy value chain.

The programme has been designed in the way that it remains short and focused. Further, only the senior level discussion participants are being invited. Infraline would then compile the discussions and would circulate to the key policy makers and the industry players.

Discussion Background

Constrained electricity market, characterized by long term PPAs and inability of the discoms & consumers to have a choice of suppliers, was opened up after the enactment of the Electricity Act-2003, which enforces the availability of non-discriminatory open access in transmission from the very beginning and distribution in phased manner. Open access, by facilitating choice, aims to introduce wholesale charges that would pave way for retail competition thereby driving down costs of power and associated services.

Open access, besides being a reason for renewed interest of industries to opt captive power generation, facilitates power trading and make redistribution of surplus across the system. But everything said and done, open access implementation procedure, stymied by certain hurdles, definitely needs a re-look so as to implement it in right spirit to foster competition.

To bring out the various issues impeding the successful implementation of Open Access, InfralineEnergy, in association with IDFC, is organizing its monthly Round Table Discussion, 8th in the series, on the topic ‘Open Access Issues’.