Does the inter-state transmission system charge waiver reach state-owned lines that carry the power across a state?
Possibly. A Ministry of Power order of 6 December 2022 says an intra-State line used to carry power across an intervening State is included in the inter-state transmission system (ISTS), and any waiver that applies to ISTS also applies to it. The Regional Power Committee may identify which lines.
What the 6 December 2022 order added
The order inserts a paragraph 5.1 into the Ministry of Power order of 23 November 2021. It quotes section 2(36) of the Electricity Act, 2003: the inter-State transmission system means (i) any system for the conveyance of electricity by means of a main transmission line from the territory of one State to another State; (ii) the conveyance of electricity across the territory of an intervening State as well as conveyance within the State which is incidental to such inter-State transmission of electricity; and (iii) the transmission of electricity within the territory of a State on a system built, owned, operated, maintained or controlled by a Central Transmission Utility (CTU).
It then says that an intra-State transmission system used for conveyance across an intervening State, or within the State incidentally to such transmission, shall be included for sharing of inter-State transmission charges. Any waiver of inter-State transmission charges that applies to inter-State systems shall also apply to such parts of the intra-State transmission. The charges of such intra-State lines shall be reimbursed by the CTU, as is being done for the ISTS system.
Who identifies the lines
The order says the concerned Regional Power Committee may, through studies, identify such lines. It does not list them. A buyer cannot tell from the order alone whether a particular state line is in or out.
How this sits with state charges at your end
Another page on this site says state charges at the buyer's end, such as wheeling, cross-subsidy surcharge, additional surcharge and banking, are set by your state commission and are not waived by the Ministry of Power order. That still holds for those charges. This order is about intra-State lines used as part of the inter-State path, with the CTU reimbursing the line owner. It does not mention distribution wheeling or the other state charges. Whether a short line at your end counts as incidental is a question for the CTU or the Committee.
Example path for out-of-state power
- A solar plant in State A sells to a factory in State C
- The power crosses State B on lines that State B's transmission company owns
- The B lines carry the conveyance across an intervening State, which limb (ii) of the definition names
- If the Committee identifies them, then on the order's wording the inter-State waiver reaches those B lines, and the CTU reimburses the charges to their owner
The states and the path are an example. Which real lines count is for the Regional Power Committee studies the order mentions.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads your electricity bills and fuel invoices into dated records, so the units on your bills are on file. It does not read transmission orders or tell you which state lines count; that comes from the Regional Power Committee studies.
- Is the transmission charge waiver still available?
- Open access charges in India
- Transmission waiver orders by date
- Emissions calculators
Sources: Ministry of Power, orders on waiver of inter-state transmission charges, 2020 to 2025 (compiled PDF)
Last reviewed 2026-11-06. Read from the image page of the 6 December 2022 order (No. 23/12/2016-R&R) in the compiled PDF, on 6 November 2026. Whether state-end charges count as incidental is not settled by the order; that point is flagged as open.