In the first such move in nearly two decades in India’s power sector, the Odisha government is set to privatize four state-owned electricity distribution companies. The Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government has given the mandate to Crisil and Deloitte for managing the sale of Western Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha Ltd (WESCO), Southern Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha Ltd (SOUTCO); and North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd (NESCO) respectively. The drive is headed by Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).
Odisha has an average power demand of 4,000 MW. While WESCO supplies electricity to consumers in the distribution circles of Rourkela, Burla, Balgarh, Bolangir and Bhawanipatna; SOUTCO supplies electricity to consumers in the distribution circles of Behrampur, Aska, Bhanjanagar, Jeypore and Rayagada.
