Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd has approached the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission seeking approval for bidding documents to procure 1,000 megawatt (MW) of source-agnostic peak power on a medium-term basis to meet rising electricity demand during peak hours. The petition requests approval of the Request for Qualification, Request for Proposal and the draft Power Purchase Agreement that will govern the procurement process. The filing has been made under Sections 63 and 86(1)(b) and (e) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and Regulation 15 of the UPERC Conduct of Business Regulations, 2019.

The proposed procurement allows participation from generators using any technology including thermal, hydro, renewable energy coupled with storage and standalone battery energy storage systems provided they can supply power during designated peak demand periods. The source-agnostic design is intended to attract flexible resources capable of responding to evening peaks and other high demand intervals. The documents set out qualification and commercial criteria aimed at ensuring reliability and operational responsiveness.

The matter first came before the Commission on July 19, 2026 when UPERC directed the utility to revisit the bidding framework and incorporate amendments to the procurement documents and to submit a fresh deviation statement with detailed justifications for any departures from standard guidelines. At the hearing on July 9, 2026 UPPCL informed the Commission that the revised documents were under finalisation and sought one week additional time for filing the requisite submissions. The Commission observed a contrast between the utility's assertion of urgency and its delay in furnishing documents but accepted the request and listed the matter for further hearing on July 21, 2026.

Approval of the tender documents by UPERC is a prerequisite for UPPCL to launch the bidding process for the 1,000 MW medium-term peak power procurement and will determine the timeline for securing supply. The procurement assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh continues to witness rapid growth in electricity demand particularly during evening peak hours and extreme weather conditions. The process is intended to bolster grid stability and reduce the risk of supply disruptions by adding flexible and reliable power resources.