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, said two people aware of the development.
While Crisil has been given the mandate for managing the sale of Western Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha Ltd (WESCO) and Southern Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha Ltd (SOUTCO); Deloitte has the mandate for North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Ltd (NESCO). The drive is headed by Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).
Odisha has an average power demand of 4,000 megawatts (MW). While WESCO supplies electricity to consumers in the distribution circles of Rourkela, Burla, Balgarh, Bolangir and Bhawanipatna, SOUTCO supplies consumers in the distribution circles of Behrampur, Aska, Bhanjanagar, Jeypore and Rayagada.
