T-GNA Through NOAR: Complete Procedure for Inter-State Open Access (June 2026 Update)

Inter-state open access is the workhorse of India's renewable energy market. Every megawatt of solar from Rajasthan that lights up a factory in Karnataka, every unit of wind from Tamil Nadu sold to a buyer in Maharashtra, every collective transaction cleared on a power exchange — all of it flows through one piece of digital infrastructure: the National Open Access Registry (NOAR), operated by Grid-India's NLDC.

The procedure that governs how parties register with NOAR, obtain transmission clearance, apply for short-term transmission access, and pay for it has been comprehensively updated. On 24 June 2026, Grid-India issued Document ID NLDC/NOAR/2026-27/Rev 2, revising the procedure pursuant to the CERC order in Petition No. 338/MP/2025. This is the third iteration since the procedure was first notified in September 2023, and it brings important changes for hybrid generators, energy storage systems, DISCOM portfolio sales, and renewable energy attribution.

For any C&I consumer, IPP, or trader operating in the inter-state market, this procedure is not optional reading — it defines the day-to-day operating reality of doing business through open access.

What is T-GNA — and why this procedure matters

Under the CERC (Connectivity and General Network Access to inter-State Transmission System) Regulations, 2022 — known as the GNA Regulations — there are two flavours of transmission access to the inter-state network:

• General Network Access (GNA) — long-term, structural access to the ISTS, typically used by DISCOMs, large IPPs, and bulk consumers with sustained needs.
• Temporary General Network Access (T-GNA) — short-term access for bilateral and collective transactions, ranging from a single 15-minute time block up to 11 months in advance.

There is also T-GNARE — the renewable energy variant of T-GNA — which carries identical procedure but receives differentiated treatment on transmission charges and losses under the Sharing Regulations, 2020.

NOAR: the common electronic platform

NOAR is the common electronic platform that operationalises T-GNA. It is not just a registration system — it is a full transaction infrastructure with eight built-in capabilities:

1. Interface for applicants to register, request standing clearance, and apply for T-GNA
2. Interface for NLDC, RLDCs, and SLDCs to process applications
3. Interface with power exchanges for validation of standing clearance and processing of bilateral and collective transactions
4. Real-time dashboards showing standing clearances, transmission corridor availability, pending applications, and T-GNA grants/rejections
5. Audit trail of all standing clearances and T-GNA applications
6. Integrated payment gateway for all T-GNA-related payments
7. Periodic MIS reports for market monitoring and surveillance
8. Any additional functions directed by CERC from time to time

The platform is mandatory: there is no offline parallel route. Any inter-state short-term transaction must flow through NOAR.

Who does what: NLDC, RLDC, SLDC

The procedure assigns specific roles to three tiers of load despatch centres. Understanding which agency handles what is essential to navigating the system efficiently.

NLDC (National Load Despatch Centre)

NLDC is the nodal agency for collective transactions and for the operation of NOAR itself. Its responsibilities include:

• Configuration and reconfiguration of bid areas based on anticipated congestion
• Operating the payment gateway for all T-GNA charges
• Processing collective transactions through power exchanges
• Registration of inter-state trading licensees, power exchanges, and cross-border traders
• Collection, accounting, and disbursement of collective transaction T-GNA charges
• Incorporating T-GNA ISTS charges and updating the details of state GNA in NOAR
• Cyber security compliance and disaster recovery for NOAR

Host RLDC (Regional Load Despatch Centre)

The RLDC of the region where the entity is located plays a dual role. It registers regional entities and provides standing clearance for them. Additionally, the nodal RLDC — defined as the RLDC where the point of drawal is located — processes T-GNA bilateral applications. Host RLDCs also:

• Collect, account for, and disburse bilateral transaction T-GNA charges
• Incorporate T-GNA transactions into the daily schedule
• Implement curtailment in cases of unit tripping (if the generator is in their region) or transmission constraint
• Verify renewable energy charging quantum for ISTS-connected energy storage systems, ensuring no double-counting with RECs

Host SLDC (State Load Despatch Centre)

The SLDC of the state where the entity is located handles registrations and standing clearances for intrastate entities seeking inter-state T-GNA. The Host SLDC also:

• Incorporates inter-state T-GNA transactions into the daily intra-state schedule
• Furnishes entity-wise schedule data to NLDC to determine if drawal schedules exceed GNA or T-GNA quantum
• Verifies renewable energy charging quantum for InSTS-connected energy storage systems

Step 1: Registration in NOAR

Any entity wishing to avail T-GNA — through bilateral or collective transactions — must first register in NOAR. Registration is a one-time process per entity. Existing entities registered for short-term open access under the previous regime are deemed registered under this Procedure.

How it works

1. The applicant creates a username and password on NOAR and submits all details requested in Format-A — applicant type, capacity, location, control area, region, connectivity (STU/CTU), COD certificate, contact person, GST, PAN, TAN, bank details, and trading licence (if applicable).
2. For regional entities, Host RLDC processes the registration. For intrastate entities, Host SLDC approves and Host RLDC reviews. For inter-state traders, power exchanges, and cross-border traders, NLDC processes directly.
3. The agency conducts a preliminary scrutiny within 2 working days. If there are deficiencies, the applicant must rectify within 2 working days or the application is rejected.

Timelines

Application type	Timeline	Processed by
Interstate T-GNA applicant (regional entity)	7 working days	Host RLDC
Intrastate T-GNA applicant — SLDC recommendation	5 working days	Host SLDC
Intrastate T-GNA applicant — RLDC processing	2 working days after SLDC input	Host RLDC
Inter-state traders, power exchanges, cross-border traders	7 working days	NLDC
Change in information (regional / inter-state / cross-border / PX)	3 working days	Host RLDC / NLDC
Change in information (intrastate) — SLDC stage	2 working days	Host SLDC
Change in information (intrastate) — RLDC stage	1 working day	Host RLDC
Change of name (with documents)	5 working days	Relevant LDC

Standing clearance and T-GNA applications cannot be made until registration is complete in all respects.

Step 2: Standing clearance

Standing clearance is a pre-authorisation from the relevant load despatch centre that confirms the entity is eligible to inject or draw a specified quantum (MW) at a specified interconnection point for a specified period. It is the gating mechanism: without standing clearance, no bilateral or collective transaction can proceed.

Who issues it and up to what quantum

• RLDC issues standing clearance for regional entity buyers up to the quantum of interstate T-GNA they seek, and for regional entity generating stations as sellers up to the approved GNA quantum as provided by CTUIL, subject to transmission margins.
• Host SLDC issues standing clearance for intrastate entities up to the quantum requested for inter-state T-GNA, both bilateral and collective.
• NLDC issues standing clearance for cross-border traders based on Designated Authority approval.

The application process

The application is filed online in NOAR with a declaration in Format-B1 (regional entity generating station as seller) or Format-B2 (grid-connected entity other than a regional generating station). For intrastate entities, DISCOM consent — if required by the host state — must be uploaded.

Processing timelines

Entity type	Timeline
New grid-connected entity	7 working days
Existing grid-connected entity	3 working days
If application is incomplete — notification	2 working days

If the SLDC fails to communicate approval or refusal within the prescribed period, standing clearance is deemed granted from 00:00 hours of the next day — but only for the period applied for or 7 days, whichever is lower.

Validity, renewal, and termination

• Maximum period: 11 months at a time, counting the month of commencement as the first.
• Renewal: apply at least one week before expiry, through NOAR with a declaration.
• Automatic termination: if there is a major change in registration details (name, parent company, utility type, connectivity), the standing clearance terminates after 2 clear days. Already-granted T-GNA transactions continue till the end of their tenure.
• Withdrawal: Host SLDC/RLDC may withdraw or downward-revise standing clearance in case of transmission/evacuation constraint or grid security. Once the constraint is cured, clearance is revived at the earliest.

The breach penalty — 7-day debarment

New provisions for hybrid generators and ESS

Revision 2 brings important clarifications for the technologies that now dominate new builds:

• Hybrid generators (with or without ESS): Standing clearances may be issued for individual sources up to the installed capacity of each respective source. However, the generator must ensure that the plant's overall schedule remains within the connectivity quantum.
• Energy Storage Systems (BESS/PSP): Eligible to apply for standing clearance under the Renewable Energy (RE) category only upon submission of a declaration in Format-J. The declaration certifies that the ESS will be charged exclusively from eligible RE sources and that no double-counting under REC will occur. Violation can lead to cancellation of NOC and debarment from future RE-category NOCs.
• DISCOM portfolio sales: When DISCOMs seek standing clearance for portfolio sale of renewable energy, they must furnish details of the source of power and the list of generators comprising the portfolio.

Deemed T-GNA for generators awaiting GNA

For generators where the GNA is yet to become effective, RLDC issues deemed T-GNA and standing clearance on a weekly cycle, subject to transmission margin availability. Critically, when allotting transmission margins, RE generators with interim connectivity at a pooling station with deemed T-GNA are treated at par with RE generators having connectivity at the same pooling station whose GNA is yet to become effective. This pari-passu treatment is significant — it ensures fair access for RE generators in the connectivity queue.

Step 3: T-GNA application (advance & exigency)

With registration and standing clearance in hand, the entity can apply for T-GNA in one of two categories:

Advance T-GNA (bilateral)

• Application filed on day (D) for transactions starting on or after (D+3)
• Can be applied for any period from 1 time block (15 minutes) up to 11 months in advance
• If point of injection is not identified at application time, the target injection region must be provided; the point of injection is submitted with the scheduling request

Exigency T-GNA (bilateral)

• Must have valid standing clearance from SLDC for both point of injection and point of drawal
• Transmission charges deposited along with the application
• Suitable for short-notice transactions

Collective T-GNA

Filed through power exchanges, not directly by the buyer or seller. Power exchanges submit scheduling requests in Format-F covering all time blocks for the delivery day.

Quantum and resolution

• Minimum quantum: 0.1 MW
• Step resolution: 0.01 MW at regional periphery
• Approved MW: 2 decimal points; approved MWh: 3 decimal points

The application is filed in Format-D with details including applicant name, requested dates and times, MW quantum, injecting and drawee entities, injection region, route, RE/non-RE status, source type (Wind / Hydro / DRE / Other RE), whether the transaction is under GTAM, whether it meets RCO obligation, whether power is procured under competitive bidding, whether T-GNA RE, whether HP-TAM applicable, captive transaction details, alternate source scheduling, and consent for part-quantum/part-period grant.

Step 4: Grant of T-GNA

The nodal RLDC processes advance T-GNA applications by 23:59 hours of the (D+1) day, on a first-come-first-served basis.

How the margin is calculated

For each time block, requests are checked against inter-regional transfer capability, then intra-regional transfer capability, then bid area transfer capability. The available margin for advance bilateral T-GNA is computed as:

Import T-GNA margin = Import ATC − Approved import (GNA + advance T-GNA)
Export T-GNA margin = Export ATC − A% × (Export PPA quantum + Approved advance T-GNA)

Where the 'A' factor is determined by NLDC based on renewable energy variability and other system exigencies. The PPA quantum is taken from contract information furnished to RLDCs while scheduling under GNA and T-GNA.

Partial approval

If full quantum and full period cannot be granted due to transmission constraints, the application is rejected — unless the applicant has given online consent through NOAR to accept partial approval. In that case, T-GNA is granted for the available transfer capability. Payment schedules are then notified to the grantee through Format-E.

T-GNARE: the renewable energy variant

T-GNARE is granted under Regulation 26.4 of the GNA Regulations, with identical procedure to T-GNA but differentiated commercial treatment:

• Eligible only for entities covered under Regulation 26.1(a) without any existing GNA or T-GNA grant
• An entity having T-GNARE cannot simultaneously hold GNA or T-GNA, and vice versa
• A T-GNARE grantee may convert the full T-GNARE into T-GNA by applying to the nodal RLDC for delivery period D+4 onwards
• Transmission charges and losses for T-GNARE from REGS/RHGS based on wind, solar, BESS charged with RE, offshore wind, hydro, and Hydro PSP ESS are subject to waiver as per Regulation 13 of the Sharing Regulations, 2020

Downward revision and cancellation

Once granted, T-GNA can only be revised under specific conditions:

• Exigency T-GNA and advance T-GNA up to 30 days: cannot be revised
• Advance T-GNA exceeding 30 days: can be reduced for the balance period with a 30-day prior notice
• The applicable T-GNA charges for the 30-day notice period are payable regardless
• The notice period excludes the day notice is served and the day the revision is implemented
• Margins freed up by revision/cancellation become available for fresh T-GNA grants

Commercial conditions and charges

Application fees

Each bilateral or collective T-GNA application carries a non-refundable processing fee of ₹5,000. The fee is forfeited even if the application is rejected or withdrawn.

Operating charges

For Advance T-GNA or Exigency T-GNA (bilateral):

• ₹1,000 per day or part thereof per application, payable to the Host RLDC, in respect of the buyer and each seller involved
• Applies whether the transaction is inter-regional or intra-regional
• Regional entity generating stations already paying RLDC charges under the RLDC Fees and Charges Regulations are exempt from operating charges for T-GNA on the same installed capacity
• For advance applications with multiple sellers: ₹1,000 per day per seller
• If the seller is not identified at application time, operating charges attributable to the seller are collected on a rolling basis within 3 days of the scheduling request

For Collective transactions:

• ₹1/MWh on energy scheduled at regional periphery, capped at ₹200 per day, payable to NLDC through the respective power exchange
• For each successful buyer and seller, operating charges under collective transactions are payable for drawal schedules in excess of GNA quantum or T-GNA quantum
• SLDC must furnish intra-state entity-wise schedule details to NLDC by 14:00 hours on (D+1); NLDC issues Power Exchange-wise and entity-wise payable operating charges by 17:00 hours on (D+1)
• Power exchanges must pay by 23:59 hours on (D+1)

Transmission charges

Transmission charges for T-GNA/T-GNARE are applicable as per Regulation 34 of the GNA Regulations and the Sharing Regulations 2020. Critically: transmission charges for T-GNA are not revised retrospectively.

Application type	Payment deadline
Advance T-GNA/T-GNARE up to 1 month	Within 3 working days of grant
Advance T-GNA/T-GNARE starting within next 3 working days	By 04:00 hours of previous day of commencement
Advance T-GNA/T-GNARE for more than 1 month (subsequent months)	By 24:00 hours, 2 days before last day of current month
Exigency T-GNA/T-GNARE	Along with the application
Collective transactions (IDAM, RTM)	By 24:00 hours on (D+1)

Failure to pay within the stipulated time means the approved T-GNA quantum is not scheduled and treated as zero, with margins released for other applications. The grantee can still pay later, but no refund is generated even if scheduling is delayed.

Delay interest on collective transactions

Delay in payment of collective T-GNA charges attracts simple interest at 0.04% per day of default, payable by the power exchange.

Refunds for transmission-constraint curtailment

If a T-GNA/T-GNARE scheduling request is not approved on day-ahead basis due to transmission constraints, or is curtailed for grid security reasons, the transmission charges for the un-scheduled quantum are adjusted against future T-GNA applications. If the grantee wants a cash refund instead, it is processed by the 15th of the next month. Important exclusion: non-availability of standing clearance is not treated as a transmission constraint — no refund is given.

TDS and tax compliance

The Revision 2 procedure aligns with the new Income Tax Act, 2025 effective from 1 April 2026. Applicants must:

• Deduct TDS where required against PAN of Grid-India / CTUIL
• Report monthly TDS challan details by the 10th of the following month (30 April for March) — Format-H
• Submit quarterly TDS certificates within 60 days of quarter close (90 days for Q4)
• Map TDS in Form 26AS within 45 days of quarter close (75 days for Q4)

Non-compliance leads to automatic barring from new T-GNA applications until the default is cured.

Waivers for ESS, hydrogen, hydro, and offshore wind

Waiver of transmission charges for scheduling under T-GNA/T-GNARE from REGS or RHGS based on wind or solar, BESS charged with RE-sourced energy, offshore wind, hydro generation, and Hydro PSP ESS is governed by Regulation 13 of the Sharing Regulations, 2020. This continues to be the primary policy lever supporting renewable open access economics.

Default handling — when applications get blocked

The procedure includes a comprehensive default management framework. Auto-blocking of new applications is triggered in the following situations:

• Non-payment of any charge (application fee, transmission charge, operating charge, interest, etc.): debarred until the default is cured
• Failure to submit monthly TDS challan by the 10th of next month: debarred from 11:00 hours of the 11th (1 May for April) until cured
• Failure to submit quarterly TDS certificate within 60/90 days: debarred from 11:00 hours of the first day of default (31 August, 30 November, 2/3 March, 30 June) until cured
• Failure to map TDS in Form 26AS within 45/75 days: debarred from 11:00 hours of the first day of default until cured

In all cases of non-payment of dues, power supply to the defaulting entity is regulated under the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022.

What's new in Revision 2 (June 2026)

The most significant additions in this revision, pursuant to CERC order in Petition No. 338/MP/2025, are:

1. Hybrid generator standing clearance: Individual source-wise clearances up to installed capacity, subject to overall plant schedule remaining within connectivity quantum
2. ESS in RE category: BESS and PSP can apply for RE-category standing clearance only with a Format-J declaration confirming exclusive RE charging and no REC double-counting
3. Pari-passu treatment for RE generators with interim connectivity: Where deemed T-GNA is issued, RE generators with interim connectivity at a pooling station are now explicitly treated at par with other RE generators at the same pooling station whose GNA is yet to become effective
4. DISCOM portfolio sales: Source-of-power and list-of-generators disclosure required for standing clearance applications involving portfolio sale
5. ESS verification by RLDC and SLDC: Periodic verification of RE charging/discharging quantum for ESS connected to ISTS (by RLDC) and InSTS (by SLDC), with REC double-counting checks while issuing Energy Injection Reports
6. Multi-seller operating charges: Explicit confirmation that ₹1,000/day applies per seller in advance applications with multiple sellers
7. Unidentified-seller rolling charge collection: Operating charges for late-identified sellers collected within 3 days of scheduling request
8. Income Tax Act 2025 alignment: Procedure references both Income Tax Act 1961 and Income Tax Act 2025 (effective 1 April 2026)

What C&I consumers and IPPs should do

For C&I consumers, IPPs, and traders relying on inter-state open access, the Revision 2 procedure has practical implications worth acting on:

1. Audit your current standing clearance limits. The 7-day debarment trigger when aggregate bid quantum exceeds standing clearance in any time block is one of the most punishing penalties in the framework. If you operate across multiple exchanges (IEX, HPX, PXIL) and have parallel bilateral schedules, ensure your aggregation discipline is tight.
2. Plan ESS RE-category applications carefully. The Format-J declaration creates a clear compliance obligation. If your BESS or PSP is charged from any non-RE source — even occasionally — claiming RE-category benefits creates serious exposure. Build robust charging-source tracking before applying.
3. For DISCOM portfolio sales, prepare the disclosure pack. The new requirement to furnish source-of-power and list-of-generators at the standing clearance stage means DISCOMs cannot rely on after-the-fact attribution. Build the portfolio mapping into the application workflow.
4. Tighten TDS and compliance calendars. The Revision 2 procedure tightens deadlines and explicitly aligns with Income Tax Act 2025. Late or missing TDS filings now mean automatic NOAR debarment — which means missed scheduling opportunities and lost arbitrage windows.
5. If you operate hybrid plants, model your scheduling envelope carefully. Source-wise standing clearance up to installed capacity sounds permissive — but the overall plant schedule must still stay within the connectivity quantum. Schedule optimisation between solar, wind, and ESS components becomes more important.
6. Use exigency T-GNA carefully. No retrospective revision is allowed, transmission charges are paid up front, and standing clearance is required for both injection and drawal. For real-time arbitrage opportunities, the discipline is greater than for advance T-GNA.

The NOAR procedure is one of those documents that quietly shapes everyday decisions across India's renewable energy market. For most of the parties using it, the cost of getting it wrong is not the headline fine but the cumulative drag of blocked applications, missed scheduling windows, and reactive compliance work. Revision 2 raises the bar in some areas — particularly around ESS, hybrids, and DISCOM portfolio disclosures — while clarifying others. The C&I consumers and IPPs who treat the procedure as core operating discipline, not back-office paperwork, will continue to capture the most value from inter-state open access.