New market players get access to NTDC, distribution companies’ networks

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday issued new rules allowing new market players to have non-discriminatory access to existing transmission and distribution networks currently maintained mostly by the public sector entities and K-Electric and provide electricity to bulk consumers. The Open Access (Interconnection and Wheeling of Electric Power Regulations, 2022 would practically end exclusivity rights of the existing transmission and distribution companies in the country as their old licences expire within a year and private entities would be allowed to enter their market. Under the rules network licensees, currently transmission and distribution companies, would be required to establish, operate and maintain their distribution system or transmission system, as the case may be, in a manner that ensures non-discriminatory open access to others under the legal framework of the regulator.