Latest news with #TPDDL
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Discoms urge people to not use metal-coated strings to fly kites on Independence Day
New Delhi, Ahead of Independence Day, power distribution entities in Delhi urged people not to use metal-coated strings for flying kites, saying it poses a "severe risk" to life and disrupts electricity supply. Discoms urge people to not use metal-coated strings to fly kites on Independence Day People in the city enjoy kite flying every year during Independence Day. A BSES spokesperson said, "Metal-coated manjha, very effective in cutting the opponent's kite string, is a deadly conductor of electricity. Its use has been linked to numerous accidents, injuries, and large-scale power outages across the city." Metal-coated strings not only pose a "severe risk" to life but also lead to disruption in power supply through tripping, affecting thousands of people, the spokesperson added. Metal-coated kite strings endanger lives, disrupt power supply, and jeopardise public safety, especially during high kite-flying seasons like Independence Day, said the BSES spokesperson. The Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited has also appealed to its customers to be mindful of the electrical network and use cotton strings or any other natural fibre instead of the metal-coated manjha. Raj Kumar Rastogi, the chief of operations and safety at TPDDL, said, "We urge everyone to fly kites away from electrical wires and installations, as it can lead to power tripping and even serious accidents." The tripping of a single 33/66 KV overhead line can disrupt power for over 10,000 residents, while a single 11 KV line can affect over 2,500 residents. Each year, multiple instances of kite-flying-related trippings are reported, he said. The threat extends beyond power disruptions. Reckless kite flying, especially with metal-coated strings, can lead to severe injuries or even electrocution for the flyer if it comes in contact with live wires or other electrical installations. The discom has appealed to people, especially family elders and parents, to counsel their children to refrain from using such strings and retrieving kites from electric wires and other such power installations. They have also been conducting an awareness campaign to prevent the use of metal-coated strings in kite flying. TPDDL has planned to hold a mega rally in the slum clusters and resettlement colonies in the city with the engagement of the company's Social Impact Group to raise awareness about electrical safety, said a spokesperson of the discom. With the help of cutting-edge Geospatial Techniques, the discom analyses the past trends of service disruptions and visualises areas such as Jahangirpuri, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Kirari, Bhaslwa, Burari, Badli, Karala, Wazirpur and Bawana that are prone to get affected by kite flying-induced interruptions, it said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
SC delivers key ruling on discom regulatory assets; power bills likely to go up across India
In a ruling that may have huge impact on consumers across the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to clear within four years the regulatory assets of the power distribution companies, including BSES companies and Tata Power Delhi Distribution ( TPDDL ), a decision that is likely to increase electricity bills across India. Reliance Infra-backed power distribution utilites BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power (BYPL) and Tata Power TPDDL had sought amortisation of their 'undisputed' regulatory assets, which according to industry estimates, has exceeded over Rs 1.5 lakh crore across the country. As on March 31, 2024, the regulatory asset including carrying costs for BRPL is Rs 12,993.53 crore, Rs 8419.14 crore for BYPL and Rs 5,787.70 crore for TPDDL, totally amounting to Rs 27,200.37 crore across all three distribution companies in Delhi. Regulatory assets, which are costs incurred by discoms but recovered or recovered over a period of time, have been accumulating for decades. A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar while issuing notice to all states with pending regulatory assets asked their state electricity regulatory commissions to submit a time-bound roadmap for recovery of these regulatory assets, while also tasking the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity to supervise the implementation of its directions. 'Regulatory Commissions must provide the trajectory and roadmap for liquidation of the existing regulatory asset which will include a provision for dealing with carrying costs. Regulatory Commissions must also undertake strict and intensive audit of the circumstances in which the distribution companies have continued without recovery of the regulatory asset,' Justice Narasimha, writing the judgment for the Bench. 'In case of non-compliance with these directions, the APTEL has the power and duty to call for an explanation, ensure accountability, and monitor compliance by the Regulatory Commissions. Similarly, the APTEL must exercise its powers under Section 121 to ensure that the legal principles on regulatory asset laid down by us are complied with by the Regulatory Commissions, and it must monitor the same. In case of non-compliance, the APTEL must issue such orders, directions, or instructions to the Commissions as may be necessary to hold them accountable,' the top court said. Existing regulatory asset must be liquidated in a maximum of four years starting from April 1, 2024, it said. "As a first principle, tariff shall be cost-reflective; the revenue gap between the approved ARR (Aggregate Revenue Requirement) and the estimated annual revenue from approved tariff may be in exceptional circumstances; the regulatory asset should not exceed a reasonable percentage, which percentage can be arrived on the basis of Rule 23 of the Electricity Rules that prescribes 3% of the ARR as the guiding principle; if a regulatory asset is created, it must be liquidated within a period of 3 years, taking Rule 23 as the guiding principle," the judgement stated while laying the broader outline for the commissions. Stating that all such dues must be amortised over four years, the top court said that disproportionate increase and long pending regulatory asset depict a 'regulatory failure'. 'It has serious consequences on all stakeholders and the ultimate burden is only on the consumer. Ineffective and inefficient functioning of the Regulatory Commissions, coupled with acting under dictation can lead to regulatory failure. The commissions are accountable for their decisions, and they are subject to judicial review,' it said. Welcoming the judgment, advocate Shri Venkatesh, appearing for Tata Power Delhi Distribution, told ET that 'the Supreme Court's judgment has decisively unlocked the value chain of electricity regulation while addressing the systemic misuse of the Regulatory Asset mechanism.' 'For decades, tariff deferments were used as a political and regulatory crutch, distorting the true cost of supply and pushing discoms into unsustainable debt. By mandating a time-bound liquidation plan and empowering APTEL to supervise compliance, the court has enforced long-ignored statutory discipline under the Electricity Act. This judgment not only restores financial credibility to discoms but also reinforces the principle that consumer tariffs must be cost-reflective and grounded in transparent regulatory processes,' Venkatesh said. "However, it is possible that the states may not want to pass it down to the consumers as it will raise tariffs. In that case, they may want to take it over. But if that were the case, they could have done it earlier," a central government official said. Vikram V, Vice President & Co-Group Head, ICRA, too termed it as a "positive development for the sector if implemented in the true spirit." He said that "ideally, there should not have been a large build-up of regulatory assets. However, large delays in issuance of tariff orders and lack of tariff revision in line with the cost structure led to this situation. Going forward, avoiding such build-up of regulatory assets would require timely pass through of cost variations by the discoms to the consumers. This will also enable the discoms to become self-sustaining." Commenting on the judgment, counsel Amit Kapur, who appeared for BSES companies, said, 'An accumulated national regulatory asset of over Rs.1.68 lakh crores means a real average tariff shortfall/deferment of virtually Re.1 per unit. A contingent liability forced on unsuspecting consumers of interest (carrying cost) of 15.5% per annum (at times on compounding basis) to be recovered with the regulatory asset over time." "This judgment, if implemented sincerely, can put Indian power sector back on track of creditworthiness and become an attractive destination for investments which will help us achieve our goal of energy transition," the counsel for BSES companies said. The ruling came on a couple of appeals filed by Delhi-based BSES firms and Tata Power seeking a direction to DERC to provide a roadmap for liquidation of the recognised amount of Revenue Gap/Regulatory Asset within a definite time frame and within a period not exceeding three years at the most. Seeking recognition of the Regulatory Asset and amortization of the Regulatory Asset within a period of 3 years, Tata Power Delhi Distribution had alleged that the Commission had consistently deferred the tariff costs legitimately owed to it by creating 'Regulatory Assets.' The discoms had alleged that the DERC's creation of Regulatory Assets was not only without a legal sanction but also in grave violation of the settled scheme of the Act, the policies and directives issued by the Central Government and the Judgments passed by the Aptel. In addition, while the power purchase cost had increased, there had been no corresponding increase in the tariff for the last nine year, they alleged. According to Justice Narsimha, 'Regulatory failure' occurs due to ineffective functioning of the Regulatory Commissions, excessive governmental interference, or 'regulatory capture'. 'We cannot wish away these real and imminent dangers that affect effective functioning of the Regulatory Commissions. These issues could have the effect of completely eclipsing regulatory functions, thereby losing the very purpose and object of restructuring the electricity sector by unbundling the functions of generation, distribution, and transmission and more importantly, establishing independent regulatory institutions and granting them the exclusive jurisdiction over grant of licenses and tariff determination. 'We have affirmed the limits of the creation, continuation and liquidation of the regulatory asset, recognised the obligations of the commissions and directed that they will be accountable and subject to such orders, instructions and directions of the Aptel, and the regulatory regime under the Electricity Act,' the apex court said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
SC delivers key ruling on discom regulatory assets; power bills likely to go up across India
In a ruling that may have huge impact on consumers across the country, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked all states and Union Territories (UTs) to clear within four years the regulatory assets of the power distribution companies, including BSES companies and Tata Power Delhi Distribution ( TPDDL ), a decision that is likely to increase electricity bills across India. Reliance Infra-backed power distribution utilites BSES Rajdhani Power (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power (BYPL) and Tata Power TPDDL had sought amortisation of their 'undisputed' regulatory assets, which according to industry estimates, has exceeded over Rs 1.5 lakh crore across the country. As on March 31, 2024, the regulatory asset including carrying costs for BRPL is Rs 12,993.53 crore, Rs 8419.14 crore for BYPL and Rs 5,787.70 crore for TPDDL, totally amounting to Rs 27,200.37 crore across all three distribution companies in Delhi. Regulatory assets, which are costs incurred by discoms but recovered or recovered over a period of time, have been accumulating for decades. A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar while issuing notice to all states with pending regulatory assets asked their state electricity regulatory commissions to submit a time-bound roadmap for recovery of these regulatory assets, while also tasking the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity to supervise the implementation of its directions. 'Regulatory Commissions must provide the trajectory and roadmap for liquidation of the existing regulatory asset which will include a provision for dealing with carrying costs. Regulatory Commissions must also undertake strict and intensive audit of the circumstances in which the distribution companies have continued without recovery of the regulatory asset,' Justice Narasimha, writing the judgment for the Bench. 'In case of non-compliance with these directions, the APTEL has the power and duty to call for an explanation, ensure accountability, and monitor compliance by the Regulatory Commissions. Similarly, the APTEL must exercise its powers under Section 121 to ensure that the legal principles on regulatory asset laid down by us are complied with by the Regulatory Commissions, and it must monitor the same. In case of non-compliance, the APTEL must issue such orders, directions, or instructions to the Commissions as may be necessary to hold them accountable,' the top court said. Existing regulatory asset must be liquidated in a maximum of four years starting from April 1, 2024, it said. "As a first principle, tariff shall be cost-reflective; the revenue gap between the approved ARR (Aggregate Revenue Requirement) and the estimated annual revenue from approved tariff may be in exceptional circumstances; the regulatory asset should not exceed a reasonable percentage, which percentage can be arrived on the basis of Rule 23 of the Electricity Rules that prescribes 3% of the ARR as the guiding principle; if a regulatory asset is created, it must be liquidated within a period of 3 years, taking Rule 23 as the guiding principle," the judgement stated while laying the broader outline for the commissions. Stating that all such dues must be amortised over four years, the top court said that disproportionate increase and long pending regulatory asset depict a 'regulatory failure'. 'It has serious consequences on all stakeholders and the ultimate burden is only on the consumer. Ineffective and inefficient functioning of the Regulatory Commissions, coupled with acting under dictation can lead to regulatory failure. The commissions are accountable for their decisions, and they are subject to judicial review,' it said. Welcoming the judgment, advocate Shri Venkatesh, appearing for Tata Power Delhi Distribution, told ET that 'the Supreme Court's judgment has decisively unlocked the value chain of electricity regulation while addressing the systemic misuse of the Regulatory Asset mechanism.' 'For decades, tariff deferments were used as a political and regulatory crutch, distorting the true cost of supply and pushing discoms into unsustainable debt. By mandating a time-bound liquidation plan and empowering APTEL to supervise compliance, the court has enforced long-ignored statutory discipline under the Electricity Act. This judgment not only restores financial credibility to discoms but also reinforces the principle that consumer tariffs must be cost-reflective and grounded in transparent regulatory processes,' Venkatesh said. "However, it is possible that the states may not want to pass it down to the consumers as it will raise tariffs. In that case, they may want to take it over. But if that were the case, they could have done it earlier," a central government official said. Vikram V, Vice President & Co-Group Head, ICRA, too termed it as a "positive development for the sector if implemented in the true spirit." He said that "ideally, there should not have been a large build-up of regulatory assets. However, large delays in issuance of tariff orders and lack of tariff revision in line with the cost structure led to this situation. Going forward, avoiding such build-up of regulatory assets would require timely pass through of cost variations by the discoms to the consumers. This will also enable the discoms to become self-sustaining." The ruling came on a couple of appeals filed by Delhi-based BSES firms and Tata Power seeking a direction to DERC to provide a roadmap for liquidation of the recognised amount of Revenue Gap/Regulatory Asset within a definite time frame and within a period not exceeding three years at the most. Seeking recognition of the Regulatory Asset and amortization of the Regulatory Asset within a period of 3 years, Tata Power Delhi Distribution had alleged that the Commission had consistently deferred the tariff costs legitimately owed to it by creating 'Regulatory Assets.' The discoms had alleged that the DERC's creation of Regulatory Assets was not only without a legal sanction but also in grave violation of the settled scheme of the Act, the policies and directives issued by the Central Government and the Judgments passed by the Aptel. In addition, while the power purchase cost had increased, there had been no corresponding increase in the tariff for the last nine year, they alleged. According to Justice Narsimha, 'Regulatory failure' occurs due to ineffective functioning of the Regulatory Commissions, excessive governmental interference, or 'regulatory capture'. 'We cannot wish away these real and imminent dangers that affect effective functioning of the Regulatory Commissions. These issues could have the effect of completely eclipsing regulatory functions, thereby losing the very purpose and object of restructuring the electricity sector by unbundling the functions of generation, distribution, and transmission and more importantly, establishing independent regulatory institutions and granting them the exclusive jurisdiction over grant of licenses and tariff determination. 'We have affirmed the limits of the creation, continuation and liquidation of the regulatory asset, recognised the obligations of the commissions and directed that they will be accountable and subject to such orders, instructions and directions of the Aptel, and the regulatory regime under the Electricity Act,' the apex court said.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Overnight storm disrupts power supply in many parts of Delhi
Power supply was disrupted in many parts of the national capital due to damage caused to electrical installations by the overnight heavy rains and thunderstorm, discoms said on Sunday. Power supply was disrupted in parts of Bawana, Ghogha village, Sector 25 Rohini, DSIIDC Narela, Sultanpuri, Sector 22 Rohini, Karala, Badli, Siraspur, Avantika, Mangolpuri, RU Block Pitampura and Rithala village among others in north Delhi, said a spokesperson of Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL). Also Read | Watch: Heavy rain in Delhi tears through membrane shade at IGI Airport "Our teams were immediately pressed into action and restoration work began on priority. As a safety measure, power supply was also temporarily suspended in some areas and restored once conditions normalised," he added. The thunderstorm accompanied with heavy rains disrupted flight operations, uprooting trees and electricity poles, and causing waterlogging in several areas. Also Read | Delhi weather: Traffic warning over IPL match, waterlogging | 5 points on roads to avoid, alternative routes The India Meteorological Department said the city's primary weather station recorded winds gusting up to 82 kmph and 81.2 mm of rain in six hours -- between 11.30 pm and 5.30 am. Discoms said that electric lines and poles were damaged with uprooted trees and broken branches falling on them plunging different localities into darkness.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi's power demand reaches 6,867 MW, season's highest so far
Delhi recorded the highest peak power demand in the summer season so far this year, as the temperature soared on Friday afternoon. The real-time figures of the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) showed the peak demand was 6,867 MW at 3.17 pm. This year, the peak power demand of Delhi is expected to cross 9,000 MW. Previously, an all-time high peak demand in the national capital was recorded at 8,656 MV in 2024. BSES discoms -- BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) -- successfully met the peak power demand of 3,004 MW and 1,479 MW respectively in their areas, according to a statement from the company. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) successfully met the peak power demand of 2,045 MW on Friday, as the city's peak reached 6,867 MW on the day, said a statement from the discom. TPDDL is fully equipped to ensure uninterrupted power supply through a multi-pronged approach that includes bilateral agreements, reserve shutdown and power exchange, it said. Live Events Last year, Delhi's peak power demand had crossed 8,000 MW for the very first time. BSES discoms are geared up to ensure reliable power supply to meet the power demand of more than 50 lakh consumers and two crore residents in South, West, East and Central Delhi, the statement said. These arrangements include long-term purchase agreements and banking arrangements with other states and deployment of latest technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning for predicting power demand accurately, it added.
