Abstract:

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Ancillary Services) Regulations, 2022 establish a comprehensive framework for procurement, deployment, and management of ancillary services required for secure and reliable operation of India’s power system. The regulations aim to maintain grid stability, system frequency, voltage control, and reserve management while supporting the increasing integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid. The framework defines various categories of ancillary services, including frequency control, reserve regulation, fast response support, voltage control, and black start services. It assigns operational responsibilities to the National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) and Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) for scheduling, dispatch, monitoring, and settlement of ancillary services. The regulations introduce market-based mechanisms for procurement and compensation, encouraging participation from generating stations, energy storage systems, and other eligible grid-connected entities.