.-(1) Until otherwise specified by the Central Government, the Central Transmission Utility shall operate the Regional Load Despatch Centres and the State Transmission Utility shall operate the State Load Despatch Centres.

(2)

The Regional Load Despatch Centre shall be the apex body to ensure integrated operation of the power system in the concerned region.

(3)

The Regional Load Despatch Centre may give such directions and exercise such supervision and control as may be required for ensuring integrated grid operations and for achieving the maximum economy and efficiency in the operation of the power system in the region under its control.

(4)

Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the State Load Despatch Centre in a State may give such directions and exercise such supervision and control as may be required for ensuring the integrated grid operations and for achieving the maximum economy and efficiency in the operation of the power system in that State.

(5)

Every licensee, transmission licensee, Board, generating company, generating stations, sub-stations and any other person connected with the operation of the power system shall comply with the directions issued by the Load Despatch Centres under sub-sections (3) and (4).

(6)

All directions issued by the Regional Load Despatch Centres to any transmission licensee of State transmission lines or any other licensee of the State or generating company (other than those connected to inter-State transmission system) or sub-station in the State shall be issued through the State Load Despatch Centre and the State Load Despatch Centre shall ensure that such directions are duly complied by the transmission licensee or licensee or generating company or sub-station.

(7)

Subject to the provisions of this section, the Regional Electricity Board in the region from time to time may mutually agree on matters concerning the smooth operation of the integrated grid and economy and efficiency in the operation of the power system in that region and every licensee, transmission licensee and others involved in the operation of power system shall comply with the decision of the Regional Electricity Board.

(8)

The Regional Load Despatch Centre or the State Load Despatch Centre, as the case may be, shall enforce the decision of the Regional Electricity Boards.

(9)

Subject to regulations made under the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998 (14 of 1998) by the Central Commission, in the case of Regional Load Despatch Centres or the State Commission in the case of State Load Despatch Centres, any dispute with reference to the operation of the power system including grid operation and as to whether any directions issued under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) is reasonable or not, shall be referred to the Authority for decision:

Provided that pending the decision of the Authority, the directions of the Regional Load Despatch Centres or the State Load Despatch Centres, as the case may be, shall be complied with.

(10)

Until the Central Commission is established, the Central Government and thereafter the Central Commission in the case of Regional Load Despatch Centre and until the State Commission is established, the State Government and thereafter the State Commission in the case of the State Load Despatch Centre of that State, may, by notification, specify the fees and charges to be paid to the Regional Load Despatch Centres and the State Load Despatch Centres, as the case may be, for undertaking the load despatch functions entrusted by the Central Government or by the State Government, as the case may be.

(11)

The provisions of sub-section (3) of section 4-B shall apply in relation to any notification issued by the Central Government or the Central Commission, as the case may be, under sub-section (10), as they apply in relation to the rules made by that Government under Chapter II.]