India’s power distribution: what DUR and CSRD reports reveal

India’s power distribution sector has reported a combined profit after tax (PAT) for the first time. The figure stands at Rs 2,701 crore for FY 2024–25. Distribution companies have historically been the weakest link in the power value chain, with accumulated losses affecting generators and lenders. A positive aggregate PAT marks a shift, though it does not necessarily indicate structural stability.

The data comes from two reports released at the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 on March 20: the Distribution Utilities Ranking (DUR) report, published by the Ministry of Power (MoP) and REC Limited (REC), and the Consumer Service Rating of DISCOMs (CSRD) report, also published by REC. Read together, they show where performance has improved, where it remains uneven, and where the sector is still carrying deep structural weaknesses.

The DUR evaluates 66 utilities across three categories: 41 general utilities, 15 special category utilities, and 10 urban utilities. It uses six parameters: Annual Integrated Rating (IR) (35%), Consumer Service Rating of DISCOMs (CSRD) (35%), Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) (5%), Communicable System Metering (5%), Demand Side Response (DSR) (5%), and Resource Adequacy (RA) (15%). The CSRD separately measures consumer service across 23 sub-parameters covering supply reliability, metering and billing, new connections, and grievance redressal. Ten utilities did not participate in the DUR, including Chandigarh’s CPDCL, three Torrent Power entities in Gujarat, CESC and DVC from West Bengal, and Telangana’s CESS-Sircilla.

The top of the table

Among the 66 utilities that did participate, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) ranks first overall with a DUR score of 92.5, retaining the top position from the previous edition. Its IR score of 99.8 is the highest among urban utilities. Its CSRD score of 90.4 places it in the A+ grade and sixth nationally on consumer service. It achieved 100 in Communicable System Metering, indicating full deployment of smart meters at feeder and distribution transformer (DT) levels. Its DSR score of 58 reflects partial implementation of Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs, a pricing mechanism where electricity rates vary by time of use.

Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) ranks second with 87.6. It scored 93.1 in CSRD and 100 in RA, indicating fully planned and regulator-approved supply arrangements. Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL) ranks third with 86.7, the highest among utilities linked to Uttar Pradesh.

Among general utilities, Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) ranks fourth overall with 84.6 and is the highest-ranked government-owned distribution company. It recorded an IR score of 97.9 and a CSRD score of 82.1, placing it in the A grade. In the special category segment, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) ranks first with 82.0, supported by strong IR and CSRD scores and full communicable metering coverage.

The consumer service picture

Overall DUR rankings and consumer service rankings do not always align. CSRD rankings present a different order, and the divergence is instructive. Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL) scored 97.1 (A+), the highest across all utilities. In the urban segment, BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), NPCL, and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) also achieved A+ grades with scores between 93 and 94.

Among general utilities, Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) ranked first with 89.6, followed by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) at 86.9 and both Telangana utilities at 86.4. Bihar’s North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (NBPDCL) scored 85.8. All four Odisha utilities under Tata Power management achieved A grades.

At the other end, lower-performing utilities include Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (JdVVNL) at 48.9 (C grade) and Jharkhand’s Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) at 53.6 (C+). In the special category, Nagaland and Andaman and Nicobar recorded the lowest scores within their group.

The split verdict: divergence between service and financial health

Divergence between consumer service performance and financial or operational metrics appears repeatedly, in both directions. Karnataka utilities illustrate one direction clearly. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) scored 84.8 in CSRD (A grade) but only 12.4 in IR, resulting in a DUR score of 52.7 and rank 56. Similar gaps are visible in Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM), Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM), Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM), and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESCOM). Consumer-facing improvements are present, but financial indicators such as the Aggregate Cost of Supply and Aggregate Revenue Realised (ACS–ARR gap) and receivables remain weak.

Telangana shows the same pattern at a more pronounced level. Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) and Telangana Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGNPDCL) both scored 86.4 in CSRD but have IR scores of 11.8 and 8.5, placing them 55th and 59th overall.

The reverse case is also present. Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL) has an IR score of 98.9 but a CSRD score of 82.7. Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) shows a similar imbalance, with stronger financial metrics than consumer service outcomes.

The Odisha story: reform outcomes

Where both dimensions align, the results are more consistent. Odisha’s four distribution companies under Tata Power management show steady performance across parameters. TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPNODL) recorded 94.8 in IR and 85.7 in CSRD, ranking ninth overall. TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited (TPCODL) scored 93.0 in IR and 83.8 in CSRD. Remaining gaps include RPO compliance and communicable metering.

Bihar: balanced performance

Bihar presents a relatively balanced profile. NBPDCL ranks fifth in its category with a DUR score of 78.0. It recorded 82.0 in IR, 85.8 in CSRD, 87.5 in DSR, and 82.7 in RA. Its primary gap is RPO compliance, where it scored zero. South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited (SBPDCL) also shows moderate performance with a score of 70.0.

The Uttar Pradesh gap

The contrast with Uttar Pradesh is sharp. While NPCL ranks third nationally, the remaining utilities are placed significantly lower. Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PuVVNL) and Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (MVVNL) rank 39th and 40th. Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) and PVVNL rank 31st and 16th. Kanpur Electricity Supply Company (KESCO) ranks last among urban utilities. Common issues include low IR scores, zero RPO compliance, weak DSR implementation, and incomplete RA planning. CSRD scores are moderate but do not offset these gaps.

Gujarat’s consistency

Gujarat utilities, Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL), rank in the upper half overall. IR scores range from 95.7 to 98.9 and CSRD scores from 71 to 83. Three of the four utilities scored zero in RA, indicating the absence of approved planning and contracting. DGVCL is the exception with a score of 72.0.

Jammu and Kashmir: impact of non-participation

Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) rank 63rd and 62nd. Neither participated in the IR exercise, resulting in a zero score on a parameter carrying 35% weightage. Their CSRD scores are moderate and DSR scores are low.

Demand side response: limited progress

DSR remains the weakest parameter across the sector. No utility scored 100, and only six general utilities scored above 75. The Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2023 mandate ToD tariffs for most consumer categories, but implementation remains limited. AEML scored 58. Among urban utilities, TPCL scored 92.0 and BRPL 87.5, while others remain lower. This gap affects peak demand management and procurement costs.

Renewable purchase obligations: uneven compliance

RPO compliance is inconsistent. Several utilities, including those in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Telangana, scored zero. Utilities with full compliance include Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (DHBVNL), Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (UHBVNL), Goa Power Department, CESCOM, and Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL). The transition to Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) targets will increase compliance requirements.

Communicable system metering: partial rollout

Only a limited number of utilities have achieved full feeder and DT metering. In the general category, five utilities scored 100, while many others scored 50 or below. Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and JBVNL scored zero. Among urban utilities, TPCL, Tata Power Central Delhi Distribution Limited (TCED), AEML, and KESCO achieved full scores.

Resource adequacy: comparatively stronger

RA shows relatively better performance. Among general utilities, 21 scored above 75 and six achieved full scores, including Andhra Pradesh utilities, Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL), and Haryana utilities. Several utilities, including three from Gujarat and some smaller states, scored zero.

What RDSS has and has not changed

The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), a central government programme aimed at improving operational and financial efficiency of distribution companies, has contributed to improvements in metering, billing, and operational efficiency. More than 20 crore smart meters have been sanctioned.

Deployment at feeder and DT level remains incomplete. Financial improvements reflected in PAT may not fully capture structural efficiency gains. IR metrics remain a more reliable indicator of long-term stability.

The defining pattern

Top-performing utilities combine strong IR and CSRD scores. AEML, TPDDL, NPCL, DGVCL, and TPNODL reflect this alignment.

Lower-ranked utilities show weaknesses across multiple parameters. JBVNL, ranked last with a score of 30.0, has low scores across IR, CSRD, RPO, metering, DSR, and RA.

Looking ahead

Future DUR editions will assess compliance under the RCO framework and track DSR implementation following the April 2025 ToD mandate. The CSRD now provides multi-year data for trend analysis.

Utilities maintaining A or A+ grades demonstrate consistent service delivery. Others face increasing visibility of gaps.

The combined data from DUR and CSRD show that India’s distribution sector has moved toward measurable benchmarking. The aggregate profit is a notable development, but as the detail in both reports shows, performance divergence across utilities remains significant.

The featured photograph is for representation only.