Tamil Nadu power utility told to compensate solar units

State-owned electricity distribution utilities (discoms), which refuse to lift and pay for ‘high-cost’ power from solar developers in violation of the relevant laws, policies and purchase agreements, will now come up against a quasi judicial order. Setting aside a March 2019 order of the Tamil Nadu electricity regulator, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (Aptel) ruled that curtailment and back-down on renewable power purchases by discoms for reasons other than grid security is untenable.

The tribunal also directed that state power regulators across the country and the pan-India load despatch body POSOCO to abide by the rule, “till such time the Forum of Regulators or the Central Government formulates guidelines in relation to curtailment of renewable energy”.