Author: PPD Team Date: 19/05/2025
CERC grants Category V trading licence to Visan Infrastructure
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved a Category V interstate electricity trading licence for Visan Infrastructure Private Limited (VIPL), allowing it to trade electricity across India. The order follows VIPL’s compliance with regulatory norms on financial capacity and technical expertise.
Under the Trading Licence Regulations, 2020, Category V licensees require a net worth of Rs 20 million and a liquidity ratio of at least 1:1. VIPL’s audited balance sheet as of 31 January 2025 met these thresholds. The company also demonstrated experienced personnel, including finance and trading professionals with over 14 years of industry experience.
The licence was finalized following a hearing that confirmed there was no opposition to the grant. The licence is valid for 25 years. VIPL shall follow trading margin limits, avoid transmission operations, and submit periodic reports. Failure to comply may result in revocation. VIPL is also required to pay annual regulatory fees under the Payment of Fees Regulations, 2012.
Petition No. 498/TD/2024 | Read the full order here.
APTEL absolves NTPC of liability in meter sealing delay case
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has ruled that NTPC Ltd. is not liable for delays in sealing meters at a 50 MW solar power project in Uttar Pradesh. The judgment, dated 14 May 2025 in Appeal No. 202 of 2022, overturns a 2020 order by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
The project, developed by Prayatna Developers Private Limited (PDPL), faced delays due to Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (DVVNL) not sealing 33 kV ABT meters on time. CERC had held NTPC accountable, identifying it as the “buyer” under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
APTEL rejected CERC’s interpretation. It clarified that NTPC, as a trading licensee under the Electricity Act, 2003, facilitates power sale between generators and distribution companies but does not manage physical assets like meters. The tribunal held that responsibility for meter sealing lies with the generating company, transmission licensee, or distribution utility, not with NTPC.
The tribunal modified CERC’s order, removing adverse remarks against NTPC and releasing it from any liability.
Appeal No. 202 of 2022 | Read the full order here.
APTEL upholds CERC order holding PTC liable to pay APNRL
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has upheld a Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) order directing PTC India Ltd. to pay Adhunik Power and Natural Resources Ltd. (APNRL) Rs 366.2 million, despite non-payment by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO). The judgment in Appeal No. 168 of 2020 affirms that power traders are financially liable under back-to-back Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
PTC had signed PPAs in 2013 as an intermediary between APNRL and TANGEDCO. After payment delays and TANGEDCO’s failure to provide a Letter of Credit (L/C), APNRL sold power to third parties. CERC held PTC liable for dues from December 2018 to February 2019, with recovery rights against TANGEDCO.
PTC argued it was not responsible unless paid by TANGEDCO. APTEL rejected this, citing PTC’s contractual duties and the Trading Licence Regulations. The tribunal noted PTC’s failure to invoice TANGEDCO, calling its conduct “unwarranted.”
APTEL denied PTC’s request to admit new evidence and upheld CERC’s findings, reinforcing traders’ financial obligations in power transactions.
Appeal No. 168 of 2020 & IA No. 1818 of 2024 | Read the full order here.
KSERC directs KSEB to issue NOC for interstate RE under T-GNA
The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has ordered Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and its State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) to issue standing clearance to Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUL) for drawing renewable energy (RE) from a solar project in Rajasthan under the Temporary General Network Access – Renewable Energy (T-GNARE) mechanism.
CUL had signed a 25-year captive PPA with Grian Energy and sought open access. SLDC refused, citing lack of deviation settlement mechanism (DSM), software automation, and doubts over captive status.
KSERC ruled that these reasons are not valid under CERC’s GNA Regulations. It noted SLDC already supports exchange-based transactions using manual systems. The Commission warned SLDC against further denials and clarified that interstate RE banking is not allowed.
SLDC shall now process the request or specify deficiencies within the set timelines.
Petition No. OP No 09/2025 | Read the full order here.
MERC clears Tata Power’s 145 MW medium-term power deal
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved Tata Power Company Ltd – Distribution (TPC-D)’s procurement of 145 MW round-the-clock thermal power for two years starting May 1, 2025.
TPC-D initiated the process through competitive bidding on the DEEP portal to procure 200 MW, but later optimized its requirement to 145 MW based on market analysis. The final procurement includes 70 MW from Jindal Power Ltd (JPL) at Rs 5.45/kWh and 75 MW from Dhariwal Infrastructure Ltd (DIL) at Rs 5.47/kWh for the period from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2027.
While MERC advised tariff alignment, DIL did not revise its rate citing higher coal costs under the SHAKTI B(iii) auction. The Commission found both bids to be within the prevailing range of Rs 5.39–6.25/kWh seen in other medium-term contracts of utilities such as BEST and MSEDCL.
Considering the transparent and competitive bidding through e-reverse auction and compliance with guidelines, MERC adopted the discovered tariffs under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. It also approved the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed on December 23, 2024, and directed TPC-D to submit the final signed copies.
Case No. 56 of 2025 and IA No. 38 of 2025 | Read the full order here.
MERC approves AEML’s 275 MW medium-term power procurement
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited – Distribution (AEML-D)’s procurement of 275 MW round-the-clock (RTC) power on a medium-term basis. The supply will cover the period from April 1, 2025, to May 31, 2027.
The procurement followed a transparent e-bidding process on the DEEP portal in line with Ministry of Power guidelines. AEML-D secured supply from three sources: 100 MW from Jindal Power Ltd (JPL) at Rs 5.36/kWh, 125 MW from Dhariwal Infrastructure Ltd (DIL) at Rs 5.47/kWh, and 50 MW from Tata Power Trading Company Ltd (TPTCL) also at Rs 5.47/kWh.
AEML-D had initially floated bids for 500 MW but settled on 275 MW based on market response and resource adequacy planning. The balance requirement will be met through other short-term and long-term contracts under the company’s power purchase strategy approved through the Multi-Year Tariff (MYT) Regulations and Resource Adequacy framework.
MERC compared the quoted tariffs with other recent bids on the DEEP portal, which ranged from Rs 5.39 to Rs 6.5/kWh. The Commission found the rates to be reasonable and aligned with market trends. Given that the process complied with technical and financial qualification norms, MERC adopted the tariffs under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
The Commission also approved the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with all three suppliers and directed AEML-D to submit final signed copies for its records.
Case No. 53 of 2025 and IA No. 40 of 2025 | Read the full order here.
GERC approves Torrent Power’s short-term RTC power purchase for 2025
The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has approved Torrent Power Limited’s (TPL) proposal to procure round-the-clock (RTC) power for two periods in 2025: April 1–30 and June 1–October 31.
The approval follows a transparent, competitive bidding and e-reverse auction process conducted through the DEEP portal. TPL had sought procurement from April to October 2025 under Section 63 of the Electricity Act, 2003. However, GERC excluded May due to comparatively high bid prices.
The Commission reviewed all tender documents, including the Request for Proposal (RFP) and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and found the process consistent with Ministry of Power guidelines. Past deviations, such as “take or pay” penalties, were already approved under a 2017 GERC order.
TPL received bids from 25 participants, including Powerpulse Trading Solutions, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam, Tata Power Trading, Jindal Power, and PTC India. The final allocations range from 25 MW to 300 MW, with tariffs between Rs 5.47 and Rs 6.55 per unit.
GERC directed TPL to include the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022, in all PPAs. TPL is also required to submit executed agreements along with a compliance affidavit and to publicly disclose all bid tariffs, naming only the winning bidders.
Petition No. 2247/2023 | Read the full order here.
For more regulatory updates, read the latest orders covered on Power Peak Digest: Energy Regulatory Updates – Power Peak Digest
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