NEA Grid Code General Condition

CHAPTER 1

GENERAL CONDITIONS

1.1 OBJECTIVE (T-1)

The objectives of this Chapter are:

(a) To specify the effectivity of the Grid Code; and

(b) To define significant terms used in the Grid Code.

1.2 SCOPE OF APPLICATION (T-1)

1.2.1 The provisions of this Chapter apply to all Parties including the following:

(a) Grid Owner;

(b) System Operator;
(c) Grid Constructor;
(d) Generators;
(e) Distributors; and
(f) Any other non NEA entity with a User System connected to the Grid

1.2.2 The Grid Owner shall endeavor to reach agreement with Grid Users who are
governed by existing contracts to comply with the provisions of this Grid Code.

1.3 AUTHORITY (T-1)

1.3.1 The Grid Code shall become effective after it is approved by the NEA
Management.

1.3.2 Notwithstanding anything contained in the Grid Code, the provisions

stipulated in Electricity Regulations 2050 and revision thereof shall govern.

1.3.3 In the event of conflict between any provision in the Grid Code and any
contract or agreement entered into prior to the date the Grid Code becomes
effective, such contract or agreement shall have precedence over the Grid Code.

1.3.4 In the event of conflict between any provision in the Grid Code and any
contract or agreement entered into after the date the Grid Code becomes effective,
the provisions of the Grid Code shall have precedence over such contract or
agreement unless specified otherwise.

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1.4 OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES (T-1)

Neither the System Operator nor the Grid Owner shall be held responsible for its
actions based on data and information submitted by Users of the Grid, provided
they are reasonable and carried out according to the Best Industry Practice.

1.5 DOCUMENT CONTROL (T-3)

The GCMC secretariat shall maintain a record of all Parties to whom the Grid
Code Document is distributed. They shall also notify all amendments to the Parties
and keep a record of the same.

1.6 INTERPRETATIONS (T-2)

1.6.1 The word "shall' wherever it occurs in the Grid Code shall mean mandatory
compliance of rules, regulations, requirements and any other provisions stated
therein.

1.6.2 The word "singular" shall include the plural and vice versa, unless specifically
stated otherwise.

1.6.3 Any reference to gender shall include all other genders.

1.7 DEFINITIONS (T-2)

1.7.1 In the Grid Code, the following words and phrases shall have the following
meanings unless more particularly defined in Chapter, Section or Subsection of the
Grid Code.

1.7.2 Standard engineering terms that are not otherwise defined are understood to have
their usual meanings.

1.7.3 The definition given in Chapter, Section or Subsection of the Grid Code shall
prevail in case of inconsistencies.

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Defined Term Definition

Alert Warning A notice issued by the System Operator to

notify Grid Users that an alert state exists.

Accountable Managers A person who has been duly authorized by

the Grid Owner or a User to sign the Fixed
Asset Boundary on their respective behalf.

Amended Connection An agreement between a User and the Grid

Agreement. Owner, which specifies the terms and
conditions pertaining to the renovation or
modification of the User System or
Equipment at an existing Connection Point
in the Grid.

Ancillary Service. Support services such as Frequency

Regulating and Contingency Reserves,
Reactive Power Support, and Black Start
capability which are essential in maintaining
Power Quality and the Reliability and
Security of the Grid.

Automatic Load The process of automatically and

Dropping (ALD). deliberately removing pre-selected Demand
from a Power System in response to an
abnormal condition in order to maintain the
integrity of the Power System.

Availability The long-term average fraction of time that

a Component or System is in service and
satisfactorily performing its intended
function.

Backup Protection. A form of protection that operates

independently of the specified Components
in the primary protective System. It may
duplicate the primary protection or may be
intended to operate only if the primary
protection fails or is temporarily out of
service.

Backup Reserve. Refers to a Generating Unit that has Fast

Start capability and can synchronize with
the Grid to provide its declared capacity for
a minimum period of eight (8) hours.

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Best Industry Practice. The practices and methods not specified in

specific standards but that are generally
accepted by the power industry to be sound
and which ensure the safe and reliable
planning, operation, and maintenance of a
Power System.

Black Start. The process of recovery from Total System

Blackout using a Generating Unit with the
capability to start and synchronize with the
Power System without Grid power supply.

Business Day. Any day on which the NEA is open for

business.

Capability and Refers to the data submitted by the

Availability Declaration Generator for its Scheduled Generating
Unit, which is used by the System Operator
in preparing the day-ahead Generation
Schedule. It includes declaration of
Generation Scheduling and Dispatch
parameters.

Central Dispatch. The process of issuing Dispatch Instructions

to the Grid Owner, Generator Distributor
and High Voltage Consumer by the System
Operator to achieve an economic operation
while maintaining Power Quality, Stability,
Reliability and Security of the Grid.

Check Meter The tariff metering system installed, owned

and maintained by receiver of electricity.

Completion Date. The date, specified in the Connection

Agreement or Amended Connection
Agreement, when the User Development is
scheduled to be ready for full commercial
operation.

Component A piece of Equipment, a line or circuit, a

section of line or circuit, or a group of
items, which is viewed as a unit for a
specific purpose.

Connection The electric lines and electric Equipment

used to join a User System with the Grid.

Connection Agreement. An agreement between a User and the Grid

Owner, which specifies the terms and

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conditions pertaining to the connection of

the User System or Equipment to a new
Connection Point in the grid.

Connection Date. The date, specified in the Connection

Agreement or Amended Connection
Agreement, when the User Development is
ready for physical connection to the Grid.

Connection Point. The point of connection of the User System

or Equipment to the Grid.

Connection Point The drawings prepared for each Connection

Drawings. Point, which indicate the equipment layout,
common protection and control, and
auxiliaries at the Connection Point.

Contingency Reserve. Generating capacity that is intended to take

care of the loss of the largest synchronized
Generating Unit or the power import from a
single Grid interconnection, whichever is
larger. Contingency Reserve includes
Spinning Reserve and Backup Reserve.

Critical Loading Refers to the condition when the loading of

transmission lines or substation Equipment
is between 90 percent and 100 percent of the
continuous rating.

Declared Available The estimated net capacity of the

Capacity Generating Units announced by the
Generator that equals the Dependable
Capacity less any reductions due to
Scheduled Outage, Forced Outage or
Maintenance Outage.

Declared Data The data provided by the Generator,

Distributor and High Voltage Consumers in
accordance with the most recent parameters.

Demand. The active Power and/or reactive power at a

given instant or averaged over a specified
interval of time, that is actually delivered or
is expected to be delivered by electrical
Equipment or supply System

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Demand Control The reduction in Demand for the control of

frequency when the Grid is in an
Emergency State.

Demand Forecast The projected Demand and Active Energy

related to a Connection Point in the Grid.

Detailed Planning Data. Additional data, which the Grid Owner

(DPD) requires, for conducting more accurate Grid
planning study.

Dispatch Instruction. Refers to the instruction issued by the

System Operator to the Generators with
Scheduled Generating Units and the
Generator whose Generating Units will
provide Ancillary Services to implement the
final Generation Schedule in real time.

Dispatch. The process of apportioning the total

Demand of the Grid through the issuance of
Dispatch Instructions to the Scheduled
Generating Units and the Generating Units
providing Ancillary Services in order to
achieve the operational requirements of
balancing Demand with generation that will
ensure the Security of the Grid.

Distribution System The system of electric lines and electrical

equipment at voltage levels of 33KV and
below.

Distributor An Electric Cooperative, private

corporation, government- owned utility, or
existing local government unit that has an
exclusive franchise to operate a Distribution
System.

Electrical Diagram. A schematic representation, using standard

electrical symbols, which shows the
connection of Equipment or Power System
Components to each other or to external
circuits.

Electric Cooperative A cooperative or corporation authorized to

provide electricity services pursuant to NEA
Cooperative Rural Electrification
Regulations, 2060.

Embedded Generator A person or entity that generates electricity

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using a Generating Plant that has no direct

connection to the Grid and is connected to
the Distribution System or the System of
any User.

Emergency State The Grid operating condition when a

Multiple Outage Contingency has occurred
without resulting in Total System Blackout
and any of the following conditions is
present: (a) generation deficiency exists; (b)
Grid transmission voltages are outside the
limits of 0.90 and 1.10; or (c) the loading
level of any transmission line or substation
Equipment is above 110 percent of its
continuous rating.

Equipment All apparatus, machines, conductor, etc.

used as part of, or in connection with, an
electrical installation.

Event An unscheduled or unplanned occurrence of

an abrupt change or disturbance in a Power
System due to fault, Equipment Outage or
Equipment mal-operation.

Fast Start The capability of a Generating Unit or

Generating Plant to start and synchronize
with the Grid within 5 minutes.

Fault Clearance Time The time interval from fault inception until
the end of the arc extinction by the circuit
breaker.

Fiscal Year Based on Bikram Sambat (Nepalese

Calendar) year beginning on the first day of
the month of Shrawan and ending on the
last day of the following month of Asadh.

Forced Outage An Outage that results from emergency

conditions directly associated with a
Component, requiring that it be taken out of
service immediately, either automatically or
as soon as switching operations can be
performed. Also, an Outage caused by
human error or the improper operation of
Equipment. This excludes Scheduled
Outages and Maintenance Outages.

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Frequency Control A strategy used by the System Operator to

maintain the frequency of the Grid within
the limits prescribed by the Grid Code by
the timely use of Frequency Regulating
Reserve, Contingency Reserve, and Demand
Control.

Frequency Regulating Refers to a Generating Unit that assists in

Reserve Frequency Control by providing automatic
Primary and/or Secondary Frequency
response.

Generating Plant A facility, consisting of one or more

Generating Units, where electricity is
produced from some other form of energy
by means of a suitable apparatus.

Generating Unit The combination of an alternator and a

turbine set or a reciprocating engine and all
of its associated equipment, which together
represents a single electricity generating
machine.

Generation Schedule Refers to the schedule that indicates the

hourly output of the Scheduled Generating
Units and the list of Generating Units that
will provide Ancillary Services for the next
Schedule Day.

Generator Any person or entity with a license, which

has among its objectives the establishment
and operation of generating stations.

Grid The system of High Voltage electric lines

and electrical equipment owned and / or
operated by the NEA for the purpose of the
transmission of electricity between Power
Stations, Distribution Systems and external
Grid Systems not owned by NEA.

Grid Constructor The Department within NEA TSO which is

responsible for constructing transmission
lines and substations within the Grid.

Grid Impact Studies A set of technical studies which are used to

assess the possible effects of a proposed
expansion, reinforcement, or modification
of the Grid or a User Development and to

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evaluate Significant Events.

Grid Owner The Grid Operation Department within the

TSO which is responsible for operation,
maintenance and expansion of the Grid.

High Voltage (HV) A voltage level of 66kV and above.

High Voltage Consumer A person to whom electricity is provided

and who has dedicated supply at 66 KV or
higher voltage.

IEC International Electro-Technical

Commission.

IEC Standard. The international standard for electro-

technical Equipment approved and
published by IEC.

Implementing Safety The Safety Coordinator assigned by the

Coordinator Grid Owner or the User to establish the
requested Safety Precaution in the Grid or
User System.

IPP Independent Power Producer owning a

Generating Plant, who is not classified as a
Public Sector Entity.

Island Grid A Generating Plant or a group of Generating

Plant and its associated load, which is
isolated from the rest of the Grid but is
capable of generating and maintaining a
stable supply of electricity to the customers
within the isolated area.

Isolation The electrical separation of a part or

Component from the rest of the electrical
Power System to ensure safety when that
part or Component is to be maintained or
when electric service is not required.

Load Dispatch Center The control room located in Kathmandu

whose staff are responsible for managing
the operation of the Power System through
coordination of generation and distribution
on a real time basis.

Main Meter The tariff metering system installed, owned

and maintained by the supplier of

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electricity.

Maintenance Outage An Outage which is not part of a Scheduled

Outage and which, if postponed by more
than two days, could cause harm to
Equipment and/or personnel.

Maintenance Program A set of schedules, which are coordinated

by the Grid Owner and the System
Operator, specifying planned maintenance
for Equipment in the Grid or in any other
User System.

Manual Load Dropping The process of manually and deliberately

(MLD). removing pre-selected Demand from a
Power System in response to an abnormal
condition and in order to maintain the
integrity of the Power System.

Metering Point The point identified in the Power Purchase

Agreement or Connection or Amended
Connection Agreement, where energy is
measured.

Minimum Stable The minimum demand that a Generating

Loading Unit can safely maintain for an indefinite
period of time.

Multiple Outage An Event caused by the failure of two or

Contingency more Components of the Grid including
Generating Units, transmission lines, and/or
transformers.

Nepal Electricity A public sector power utility with a license

Authority (NEA) for generation, transmission and distribution
of electricity throughout the country,
pursuant to NEA Act 2042

NEA Distribution & An entity within the NEA organization,

Consumer Services which serves as Distributor

NEA Engineering An entity within the NEA organization,

Services which is responsible for hydropower project
development and which provides
engineering services to various entities
within the NEA.

NEA Generation An entity within the NEA organization,

which serves as Generator and developer of

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NEA-owned Generating Plants.

NEA Management NEA Board constituted pursuant to NEA

Act, 2042.
NEA, Power Trading An entity within the NEA organization,
Department which is responsible for negotiation and
processing of Power Purchase Agreements
with IPP's and cross-border power traders.

NEA, Transmission & An entity within the NEA organization,

System Operation which is comprised of following three
departments:
 Grid Operations which fulfills the
role of Grid Owner for the
purposes of the Grid Code
 System Operator
 Transmission Line and Substation
Construction which fulfills the
role of Grid Constructor for the
purposes of the Grid Code

Negative Sequence The ratio of the magnitude of the negative

Unbalance Factor sequence component of the voltages to the
magnitude of the positive sequence
component of the voltages, expressed in
percent.

Normal State The Grid operating condition when the

System frequency, voltage, and
transmission line and equipment loading are
within their normal operating limits, the
Operating Margin is sufficient, and the Grid
configuration is such that any fault current
can be interrupted and the faulted equipment
isolated from the Grid.

Operating Margin The margin of generation over the total

Demand plus losses that is necessary for
ensuring power quality and security. It is the
sum of Frequency Regulating Reserve and
Contingency Reserve.

Operating Program A periodic program prepared by the Grid

Owner and the System Operator based on
data submitted by Generators and Users
which specifies the expected Availability
and aggregate capability of generation to
meet forecasted Demand.

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Outage The reduction of capacity or taking out of

service of a Generating Unit, transmission
system or distribution system.

Output Usable That portion of registered capacity which is

available for dispatch.

Partial System Blackout The condition when a part of the Grid is

isolated from the rest of the Grid and all
generation in that part of the Grid has
shutdown or tripped off.

Party Any person, company, organization,

authority, firm or association subject to the
provisions of the Grid Code; provided,
however, that any non-NEA Users shall
have mutually agreed with NEA to be
subject to the Grid Code.

Point of Grounding The point on the Grid or the User System at

which Grounding can be established for
safety purposes.

Point of Isolation The point on the Grid or the User System at

which Isolation can be established for safety
purposes.

Power Line Carrier A communication Equipment used for

(PLC) transmitting data signals through the use of
power transmission lines.

Power Purchase The agreement between a Generator and a

Agreement or PPA buyer in which, subject to certain
conditions, the buyer agrees to purchase the
electrical output of the Generator.

Power Quality. The quality of the voltage, including its

frequency and resulting current that are
measured in the Grid, Distribution System,
or any User System.

Power System The combination of the Grid, Distribution

System and Generating Plants.

Power System Master Twenty (20) year plan for the Power System
Plan reviewed annually and updated every five
(5) years covering all issues relating to the
Power System.

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Primary Response. The automatic response of a Generating

Unit to Frequency changes, released
increasingly from zero to five second from
time of Frequency change, and which is
fully available for the next 25second.

Reactive Power A diagram which shows the reactive power

Capability Curve. capability limit versus the Real Power
within which a Generating Unit is expected
to operate under normal conditions.

Registered Equipment Data submitted by a User to the Grid Owner

Data. at the time of Connection of the User
System to the Grid.

Reliability. The probability that a System or Component

will perform a required task or mission for
specified time in a specified environment.

Safety Coordinator. A person designated and authorized by the

Grid Owner or the User to be responsible
for the coordination of Safety Precautions at
the Connection Point when work or testing
is to be carried out on a System which
requires the provision of Safety Precautions
for HV Equipment.

Safety Rules. The rules that seek to safeguard personnel

working on the Grid or User System from
the hazards arising from the Equipment or
the Grid or User System.

Safety-Plate. A label conveying a warning against

possible interference or intervention as
defined in the safety clearance and tagging
procedures.

Schedule Day The period from 00:00 hours to 24:00 hours

each day.

Schedule Generating A Generating Plant whose Generating Units

Plant. are subject to Central Dispatch by the
System Operator.

Scheduled Generating A Generating Unit within a Scheduled

Unit. Generating Plant.

Scheduled Outage The Outage of a Component or Equipment

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planned by Generator and/or Grid Owner

and which is approved by the System
Operator.

Scheduling The process of determining the Generators

that shall provide Energy and Ancillary
Services taking into account the operational
constraints in the Grid for a period of time
in the future.

Secondary Response The automatic response to Frequency which

is fully available 25 seconds from the time
of Frequency change to take over from the
Primary Response, and which is sustainable
for at least 30 minutes.

Security The continuous operation of a power system

in the Normal State, ensuring safe and
adequate supply of power, even when some
parts or Components of the System are on
Outage.

Significant Event Notice A notice issued by the System Operator or

any User if a Significant Event has
transpired on the Grid or the User System,
as the case may be.

Significant Event An Event on the Grid or the System of any

User that has a serious or widespread effect
on the Grid or the User System.

Single Outage An Event caused by the failure of one

Contingency Component of the Grid including a
Generating Unit, transmission line, or a
transformer.

Site Refers to a substation or switchyard in the

Grid or the User System where the
Connection Point is situated.

Small Generator A Generator whose Generating facility at

the Connection Point has an aggregate
capacity of 5MW or below.

Spinning Reserve The component of Contingency Reserve

which is synchronized to the Grid and ready
to take on load.

Stability The ability of the dynamic Components of

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the Power System to return to a normal or

stable operating point after being subjected
to some form of change or disturbance.

Standard Planning Data The general data required by the Grid

(SPD) Owner as part of the application for a
Connection Agreement or Amended
Connection Agreement.

Start-Up The process of bringing a Generating Unit

from Shutdown to synchronous speed.

Supervisory Control and A system of remote control and telemetry

Data Acquisition used to monitor and control a Power
(SCADA) System.

System Refers to the Grid or Distribution System or

any User System. Also a group of
Components connected or associated in
fixed configuration to perform a specified
function.

System Operator The Department under the TSO which

owns, operates and maintains the Load
Dispatch Center. This entity is responsible
for Central Dispatch, provision of Ancillary
Services, and operation and control to
ensure safety, Power Quality, Stability,
Reliability, and Security of the Grid.

System Test Procedure A procedure that specifies the switching

sequence and proposed timing of the
switching sequence, including other
activities deemed necessary and appropriate
by the Test Committee in carrying out the
System Test.

System Test The set of tests which involve simulating

conditions or the controlled application of
unusual or extreme conditions that may
have an impact on the Grid or the User
System.

Total System Blackout The condition when all generation in the

Grid has ceased, the entire System has
shutdown, and the System Operator must
implement a Black Start to restore the Grid
to its Normal State.

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Transmission The program for expansion, reinforcement,

Development Plan (TDP) and rehabilitation of the Grid which is
prepared by the System Planning
Department.

User A person or entity that uses the Grid and

related facilities.

User Development The System or Equipment to be connected

to the Grid or to be modified, including the
relevant proposed new connections and/or
modifications within the User System that
requires a Connection agreement or an
Amended Connection agreement.

User System. Refers to a System owned or operated by a

User.

Voltage Unbalance Refers to the Negative Sequence Unbalance

Factor or the Zero Sequence Unbalance
Factor.

Voluntary Load The agreed self- reduction of Demand by

Curtailment (VLC) identified industrial Customers to assist in
Frequency Control when generation
deficiency exists.

Week A period of seven (7) days which starts at

00:00 hours on Sunday and ends at 24:00
hours on Saturday.

Zero Sequence The ratio of the magnitude. of the zero

Unbalance Factor sequence components of the voltages to the
magnitude of the positive sequence
components of the voltage, expressed in
percent.

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Date of
S. No. Section Amendments to Grid Code
Amendment

This page is left intentionally blank to record future amendments to the Grid Code.

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