Revised framework for power dispatch mechanism finalised

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) The government has finalised the revised framework of Day-Ahead national-level Merit Order Dispatch Mechanism in the power sector, which will result in savings for consumers.

It will also help states in meeting their electricity demand in a cost-effective manner with less carbon footprint, official sources said.

The framework has been revised with a view to lower the overall cost of electricity generation, which will translate into lower electricity prices for consumers.

As per the revised mechanism, the Merit Order for cheapest generating resources across the country to meet the system demand, would be finalised a day in advance as against 1.5 hours in the existing system, Power Ministry sources said.

This will result in better planning for generating units and cost optimisation.

Moreover, the revised mechanism will also enlarge the scope of present mechanism by including all the regional entity thermal power plants and subsequently all the intra-state thermal generators.

In the existing system, only the NTPC thermal stations were part of the merit order despatch.

The existing mechanism of merit order dispatch at real time was made operational in April 2019.

This optimised the total variable cost of generation pan-India, while meeting technical and grid security constraints.

The existing mechanism resulted in reduction of variable cost on pan-India basis to the tune of Rs 2,300 crore and these benefits were being shared with generators and their beneficiaries ultimately reducing the cost of electricity to consumers.

The gains out of the proposed Day-Ahead National Merit Order Dispatch Mechanism would be shared between generating stations and their consumers.

This will result in increased annual savings for the electricity consumers. This will also help the states in maintaining resource adequacy in a cost effective manner with less carbon footprints.

The Day-Ahead National Merit Order Dispatch Mechanism will be implemented by the CERC through necessary regulatory process and it will be operated by GRID-INDIA at the national level.