Jaipur: After nearly two decades of relying on an outdated power procurement framework, the electricity regulator Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has issued draft guidelines for resource adequacy regulations.
The move comes at a time when the regulator is set to conclude discussions at a hearing on Tuesday on a proposal by the state govt to procure 3,200MW through competitive bidding. The state is already navigating multiple power planning proposals alongside a growing pipeline of renewable energy from schemes such as Kusum and PM Surya Ghar Yojana.
Until now, it has relied on a combination of state regulations made in 2004 and reports by the Central Electricity Authority, with divergence between the two emerging as a persistent source of uncertainty.
Earlier, the CEA’s initial resource adequacy plan for Rajasthan projected a need for around 3,246MW of additional thermal capacity by 2031-32.
However, an updated assessment released in early 2025, which extended the timeframe to 2035-36 and incorporated the latest data from the state, suggested a moderate demand trajectory.
Interestingly, it did not increase thermal capacity requirements, indicating that the proposed 3,200MW may not be necessary. Subsequently, in contrast, the state’s Energy Assessment Committee assessed that Rajasthan may require an additional 2,000 MW of thermal capacity by 2030-31 and more than 5,000MW by 2035-36.
These divergent estimates underscore the challenge that RERC’s resource adequacy regulations seek to address. While the regulations are well structured on paper, the more pressing question is whether Rajasthan’s discoms have the capacity to implement them effectively, industry representatives said.
