New JERC rules push power dept to plan for demand, prevent shortages

Panaji: To improve electricity reliability, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has notified guidelines to help power distribution companies plan power purchases better and avoid shortages. These rules, known as the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (Framework for Resource Adequacy) Regulations, 2025, are designed to ensure that there is enough electricity available to meet the growing demand, especially during peak seasons like summer.According to the guidelines, electricity distribution agencies like the Goa electricity department will be required to forecast how much power will be needed on a monthly, seasonal and yearly basis. Department officials must plan for any gaps in power requirements and contract additional power if needed. This will help avoid sudden power cuts or blackouts during high-demand periods, the guidelines stated.“Peak demand (in MW) shall be determined by considering the average load factor, load diversity factor, seasonal variation factors for the last three years, and the load forecasts (in MWh) obtained,” the guidelines said. Failure to plan power requirements leading to power cuts could result in penalties, according to the notified guidelines. These penalties cannot be passed on to the consumers. It is expected to hold the Goa electricity department accountable and prevent mismanagement.The new rules also make it mandatory for electricity providers to publicly share how much power they are buying or selling. This data must be uploaded to their websites regularly. Consumers will now be able to access information on power availability, giving them greater visibility into how their electricity is being managed.These guidelines also apply to state transmission companies and full, open access consumers that are connected to the power grid. The JERC guidelines push for improved coordination among power companies, load management centres, and govt bodies. All electricity providers will have to work together to share data on power demand, availability and consumer usage patterns.The Goa electricity department will have to set up two dedicated teams — one for long-term planning and another to manage day-to-day electricity buying and selling of power. These teams will be responsible for ensuring there is no gap between demand and supply, the guidelines said.