Author: PPD Team Date: 11/04/2025
BERC approves revised power tariffs and business plans for FY 2025–26
The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has issued its final tariff order for North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (SBPDCL), covering the true-up for FY 2023–24, performance review for FY 2024–25, and determination of Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) and retail tariffs for FY 2025–26. The order, effective from April 1, 2025, also approves the Business Plan for the control period FY 2025–26 to FY 2027–28.
Key issues raised during public hearings included concerns over fixed and energy charges, metering infrastructure (especially for irrigation and streetlights), net metering for solar rooftops, and high transmission and power purchase costs. Stakeholders also sought rationalization of tariffs, improved billing efficiency, and reduced aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses.
The Commission’s final approval includes:
- True-up for FY 2023–24: The approved AT&C losses were 28.93% for NBPDCL and 31.88% for SBPDCL. The final revenue gaps approved were ₹482.36 crore for NBPDCL and ₹1,116.60 crore for SBPDCL, both to be recovered in FY 2025–26.
- ARR and Tariff for FY 2025–26: The approved ARR is ₹8,389.76 crore for NBPDCL and ₹10,739.68 crore for SBPDCL. The average cost of supply was calculated as ₹8.20/kWh for NBPDCL and ₹8.39/kWh for SBPDCL.
- Retail tariffs: The average tariff hike was around 6.15% across consumer categories. However, tariffs for domestic consumers using up to 100 units/month were left unchanged to protect vulnerable consumers.
- Wheeling charges and open access: Wheeling charges for FY 2025–26 are ₹0.82/kWh (33kV) and ₹1.06/kWh (11kV). Transmission and cross-subsidy charges were also revised for open access consumers.
The Commission directed both DISCOMs to improve billing and collection efficiency, reduce losses, and accelerate smart meter rollout. Notably, the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets for both companies were increased, signaling a push toward cleaner energy procurement.
Petition No: Case No. 29/2024 & 33/2024 (NBPDCL) and Case No. 30/2024 & 34/2024 (SBPDCL) | Read the full order here.
BERC continues proceedings over alleged non-compliance of Ombudsman’s order by NBPDCL
The Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC) has continued proceedings in Case No. 25/2024 concerning the alleged non-compliance of an Electricity Ombudsman’s order dated January 16, 2024, by the Electrical Executive Engineer (EEE), Electrical Supply Division, Muzaffarpur (West), North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (NBPDCL).
The petitioner, Smt. Rambha Sharma, alleges that the corrected bill issued by NBPDCL on January 22, 2024, in response to the Ombudsman’s directive, does not comply with Section 56(2) of the Electricity Act in “letter and spirit.” She contends that certain documents submitted during the Ombudsman’s hearing were disregarded when the revised bill was issued.
NBPDCL, in its reply dated March 12, 2025 (letter no. 432), claimed that the order was fully complied with within six days of issuance, and a corrected bill was duly handed over to the petitioner. The respondent further asserted there was no willful delay and requested dismissal of the case under Section 142(5) of the Electricity Act, which deals with penalties for non-compliance of Commission’s directions.
During the latest hearing on April 3, 2025, both parties reiterated their positions. The petitioner requested additional time to submit a detailed written statement and supporting documents demonstrating that the bill was not revised in accordance with the Ombudsman’s directions. The respondent also sought 15 days to file a comprehensive reply addressing all allegations.
Acknowledging the requests from both parties, the Commission granted time until April 21, 2025, for submission of written statements and scheduled the next hearing for April 25, 2025, at 11:30 AM.
The outcome of this case could set a precedent on how distribution licensees interpret and implement Ombudsman orders, especially with respect to billing disputes under Section 56(2) of the Electricity Act.
Petition No: Case No.-25/2024 | Read the full order here.
AERC approves 500 MW coal power procurement by APDCL at ₹5.79/unit for 25 years
The Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) has granted in-principle approval to Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for the long-term procurement of 500 MW of coal-based power through competitive bidding under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The procurement will be staggered—200 MW starting from FY 2025–26 and an additional 300 MW from FY 2028–29, each for a tenure of 25 years.
APDCL had conducted the bidding via the Ministry of Power’s DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) Portal, with fuel supply secured under Coal India Limited’s SHAKTI B(iv) policy. Bids were received from four generators—DB Power, Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd, MB Power (Madhya Pradesh) Ltd, and Adani Power.
The final tariff, determined through bidding, was ₹5.79/kWh. Though DB Power emerged as the L1 bidder offering 125 MW, the full quantum was secured after L2 to L4 bidders agreed to match the L1 tariff, as per Clause 3.3.3 of the Request for Proposal (RFP).
Approved suppliers and tariff structure:
The Commission noted that the approved tariff is competitive and lower than the ₹6.46/kWh cost of power from NTPC Bongaigaon as per AERC’s March 2025 tariff order. It also acknowledged the necessity of base-load power to meet growing demand in Assam, as highlighted in the Central Electricity Authority’s Resource Adequacy Plan.
The petition was accordingly disposed of, with APDCL receiving the Commission’s approval to proceed with long-term procurement from all four generators at the L1 price.
Petition No: 01/2025 | Read the full order here.
CSERC approves CSPDCL’s bid documents and tariff for solar power under PM-KUSUM scheme
Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) has filed a petition seeking approval for the bid documents and tariff adoption for solar power to be sold under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme. The petition was submitted on January 7, 2025, and relates to the power that will be sold by renewable power generators selected via the Request for Selection (RfS) dated October 4, 2023.
The RfS is for the setup of grid-connected Solar PV-based Power Plants (SPP) with a cumulative capacity of 600 MW (AC) under the feeder level solarization component of PM-KUSUM in various locations across Chhattisgarh. The agreement is set for 25 years, ensuring a long-term supply of clean energy.
The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC), after reviewing the petition and stakeholder comments, approved the bidding document issued by CSPDCL. The documents were largely based on the RfS issued by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) for a similar project under PM-KUSUM. The approval was granted with consideration for the specific needs of Chhattisgarh.
However, there was considerable variation in the rates quoted by successful bidders. The rates ranged from Rs. 3.04 per kWh to Rs. 9.00 per kWh. To address this, CSPDCL set up a rate negotiation committee, which engaged with the bidders to bring the rates in line with those in other states for similar projects, which ranged from Rs. 2.90 per kWh to Rs. 3.40 per kWh.
After negotiations, the rates proposed by some bidders were between Rs. 3.41 per kWh and Rs. 5.13 per kWh. The committee further analyzed cost components such as module prices, operation and maintenance expenses, and inflation. Based on this review and current industry standards, the committee proposed a tariff of Rs. 3.50 per kWh.
The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission, considering the overall market dynamics and cost structure, approved this price. The case was disposed of accordingly.
Petition No: 06 of 2025 | Read the full order here.
MPERC admits true-up petition for FY 2023-24 by MPIDC
The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has reviewed and admitted the true-up petition filed by Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC) for the financial year 2023-24, under the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MYT) Regulations, 2021. The petition aims to adjust the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) for the fiscal year, with the net revenue gap determined to be Rs. 0.67 crore after analysis.
MPIDC, a deemed distribution licensee, operates in the SEZ Indore (Pithampur) area and filed the petition on 29th November 2024. After receiving stakeholder comments and analyzing the data, MPERC calculated the revised ARR, reducing several claimed costs, including power purchase cost and transmission charges. A public notice was issued, and despite the lack of objections, the Commission has decided to pass on the revenue gap in the retail supply tariff for future years. The final revenue gap amount, including carrying cost, is Rs. 0.67 crore.
Table: ARR admitted by MPERC for FY 2023-24 (Rs. Crore)
Petition No. 71 of 2024 | Read the full order here.
MPERC approves Rs 2,975.79 crore revenue gap for discoms in FY 2023-24
The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (MPERC) has approved a net revenue gap of Rs 2,975.79 crore for the state’s three distribution companies (discoms) after the true-up of their Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) for FY 2023-24. The order, passed on March 28, 2025, addresses petitions filed by East, West, and Central DISCOMs, along with Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Limited (MPPMCL).
Key issues included higher-than-normative distribution losses, disputes over unmetered sales, and adjustments related to prior-period power purchases. The Commission disallowed excess sales booked for unmetered agricultural and domestic consumers due to non-compliance with metering norms. However, West DISCOM was allowed to retain Rs 230.46 crore for achieving lower distribution losses, while East and Central DISCOMs faced disallowances for inefficiencies.
Power purchase costs were scrutinized, with Rs 40,182.61 crore approved after prudence checks. Intra-state transmission charges were approved at Rs 5,145.28 crore. Operational expenses, including employee costs and maintenance, were capped at normative levels. Prior-period adjustments for Central DISCOM included Rs 29.71 crore for delayed asset capitalization. Lease charges for smart meters were approved at Rs 172.94 crore for East and West DISCOMs under the RDSS scheme.
Petition No: 70/2024| Read the full order here.
KSERC approves true-up of accounts for TCED with a revenue surplus for FY 2023-24
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has issued an order on April 9, 2025, regarding the petition filed by the Thrissur Corporation Electricity Department (TCED) for the true-up of accounts for the financial year 2023-24. TCED, a deemed distribution licensee since 1937, operates in the old Thrissur Municipality area.
The petition, filed under the KSERC (Terms and Conditions for Determination of Tariff) Regulations, 2021, requested the true-up of accounts based on audited figures. TCED had initially reported a revenue gap of Rs. 150.17 lakh, compared to the Rs. 324.33 lakh revenue surplus previously approved by the Commission in its Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) and Estimated Revenue from Charges (ERC) order.
The Commission reviewed several factors, including power purchase costs, distribution losses, energy sales, consumer mix, and operational expenses such as employee costs and administrative and general expenses. While the true-up accounts were approved, the Commission highlighted an increase in the number of consumers and energy sales but noted higher-than-approved distribution losses. Consequently, the power purchase cost was adjusted accordingly.
Following the Commission’s final decision, the total income for FY 2023-24 was recorded at Rs. 16,504.55 lakh, while the total expenditure stood at Rs. 15,525.23 lakh, resulting in a revenue surplus of Rs. 979.32 lakh.
Petition No: OP 53/2024 | Read the full order here.
RERC approves solar power tariff for JVVNL projects
The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has approved the levelized tariff for solar power projects with a combined capacity of 12.02 MW under Component-C (Feeder Level Solarization) of the PM-Kusum Scheme. Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) filed the petition under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and Regulations 19 and 21 of the RERC (Transaction of Business) Regulations, 2021, for approval of the tariff discovered through transparent competitive bidding.
The Commission has approved the purchase of power from four solar photovoltaic plants for a 25-year period, under the PM-Kusum Scheme. Discoms are directed to carry out system/load flow studies to ensure proper integration with the network. Furthermore, they are advised to continue conducting transparent bidding and rate analysis for future projects to ensure reasonable and market-aligned tariffs.
Discoms are also encouraged to explore the possibility of bidding for multiple substations as one group to lower tariffs, benefiting consumers. The Commission has emphasized compliance with the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) as per MNRE guidelines and the need to monitor and manage any change in law events effectively.
Petition No: 2282/2025 | Read the full order here.
TNERC rejects TNPDCL’s request to waive ₹137 crore surcharge on local body power dues
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has dismissed a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. (TNPDCL) seeking approval to waive ₹137.13 crore in Belated Payment Surcharge (BPSC) owed by local bodies across the state.
TNPDCL had proposed the waiver as part of a settlement plan discussed in a review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu in March 2023. Under the plan, local bodies were to pay 50% of their total outstanding dues—₹1,618.54 crore as of March 31, 2023—in 24 equal monthly instalments, following which the BPSC would be waived. The outstanding dues included ₹1,481.41 crore in current consumption charges and ₹137.13 crore in BPSC.
The Commission rejected the proposal, stating that BPSC is a statutory charge under the Electricity Act and relevant supply codes, and cannot be waived without compelling circumstances. It noted that local bodies already benefit from concessional treatment, including a lower BPSC rate of 0.5% per month compared to 1.5% for other LT consumers, and longer payment timelines.
The Commission was particularly critical of the low participation rate among local bodies. Only 32% of the nearly 8.7 lakh service connections had paid 50% of their dues by the time of the hearing. The remaining 68% had not shown interest in availing the payment plan, undermining the rationale for a broad waiver.
In its order, TNERC directed TNPDCL to recover dues from local bodies by issuing notices with a defined payment timeline. Where dues are not cleared, disconnection of service connections—except for essential services like street lighting, hospitals, and water supply—must be considered. Additional opportunities must be given before disconnecting such essential services. TNPDCL was also directed to roll out prepaid meters for all local body and government connections and to raise awareness among local administrators about the importance of timely payment.
TNERC concluded that granting the waiver would contradict the commercial principles and consumer protection mandates under the Electricity Act. The petition was dismissed, and TNPDCL was instructed to report on the implementation of the directives.
Petition No: M.P. No. 3 of 2024 | Read the full order here.
TNERC approves TNPDCL’s short-term power procurement to meet 2025 summer demand
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has approved a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. (TNPDCL) seeking permission to float a short-term tender to procure power between March 1 and May 10, 2025. The approval includes a deviation from the Ministry of Power’s guidelines to address expected supply shortages during peak summer months.
TNPDCL projected a record power demand of 22,080 MW in 2025, exceeding Central Electricity Authority (CEA) forecasts and driven by increased industrial, IT, and commercial activity following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The demand in previous years had already shown sharp increases: 17,563 MW in April 2022, 19,387 MW in April 2023, and 20,830 MW in May 2024.
The approved procurement plan includes 850 MW from 00:00 to 08:00 hrs and 1,425 MW from 18:00 to 24:00 hrs in March 2025; 1,300 MW from 00:00 to 06:00 hrs and 2,610 MW from 18:00 to 24:00 hrs in April; and 650 MW from 00:00 to 08:00 hrs and 1,080 MW from 18:00 to 24:00 hrs from May 1 to 10, 2025.
TNPDCL argued that despite bidding at the ₹10/unit ceiling price on exchanges in past summers, it secured only 15–25% of its requirement due to market shortages. The proposed tender aims to secure reliable supply at competitive rates by leveraging advance procurement and available transmission corridors.
The Commission directed TNPDCL to engage a consultant for optimized power purchase planning using AI and analytics and mandated submission of a short-term purchase plan for FY 2025–26 and 2026–27 by June 30, 2025.
In its final order, TNERC granted permission to proceed with the tender, directed TNPDCL to maintain short-term open access (STOA) purchases within 5–10% of total procurement, and required adherence to previous directives issued in M.P. No. 50 of 2024.
Petition No: M.P. No. 53 of 2024 | Read the full order here.
JSERC approves H.T. connection for Regal Ingot Pvt. Ltd.
The Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) has approved the petition filed by Regal Ingot Private Limited for the grant of an H.T. connection at 33 kV with a contract demand of 1400 KVA from Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL). The petition, filed under Clause 4.7 of the Electricity Supply Code Regulations, 2015, sought approval for the connection.
The Commission has allowed the petitioner’s request, subject to ensuring the proper arrangement of metering, billing, and network system protection. Additionally, it has been clarified that the petitioner will not be eligible for a voltage rebate at the 33 kV voltage level, as per the relevant regulations.
With this approval, the petition has been disposed of accordingly.
Petition No: Case No. 38 of 2024 | Read the full order here.
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