Commercial operation of the first 1,000 MW unit at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) is expected to happen only next year with the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) agreeing to the petition filed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). The CERC by its November 10 order has permitted NPCIL to feed infirm power into the southern gird till Jan 22, 2015 on a petition by the Indian atomic power plant operator.