MERC dismisses MSEDCL's review of its 28-Mar-2025 InSTS MYT Order; Rs 134.01 cr refund for Base TCR (POA exclusion) stands, MSEDCL's Rs 224.67 cr claim rejected
Case of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. seeking review of the Commission’s Intra-State Transmission System (InSTS) Multi-Year Tariff Order dated 28 March 2025 in Case No. 208 of 2024.
MSEDCL sought review of MERC's 28 March 2025 InSTS MYT Order (Case 208/2024) to the limited extent of re-computing Base Transmission Capacity Rights (TCR) for the 4th Control Period and adjusting Base TCR for the 5th Control Period, per APTEL's 5 July 2024 judgment (Appeal 95/2024) directing exclusion of Partial Open Access (POA) consumer demand from TCR computation. MSEDCL argued STU's use of yearly average monthly POA demand (instead of 15-minute block-wise data) understated its POA demand, and sought a refund of Rs 224.67 crore (vs Rs 134.01 crore already approved) for FY2020-21 to FY2023-24.
- Review Petition dismissed in its entirety on all three issues raised by MSEDCL.
- Held that MSEDCL's grounds were already considered and decided in the 28 March 2025 order; a review cannot re-agitate a considered decision absent new facts or error apparent on record.
- Upheld STU's methodology of deducting average (not 15-min block-wise) POA demand from CPD/NCPD, given non-availability of 15-minute data from AEML-D and TPC-D and consistency with Regulation 83.2 of MYT Regulations, 2024.
- Confirmed the approved refund/adjustment of Rs 134.01 crore to MSEDCL for FY2020-21 to FY2023-24; rejected MSEDCL's own computation showing Rs 224.67 crore.
- Noted the revised Base TCR and TTSC-sharing impact has already been adjusted in FY 2025-26 (first year of 5th Control Period).
- Reiterated earlier direction that STU/SLDC resolve POA data availability via the Grid Coordination Committee (GCC), with methodology to apply prospectively.
- Impugned order dated 28 March 2025 (Case 208/2024) stands final on Base TCR/POA computation; no fresh recomputation ordered.
- Rs 134.01 crore refund/adjustment to MSEDCL remains incorporated into FY2025-26 TTSC sharing among TSUs.
- STU/SLDC to finalize, via the Grid Coordination Committee (GCC), a methodology for monthly collation of 15-minute billed POA demand data from all distribution licensees.
- Distribution licensees (MSEDCL, AEML-D, TPC-D) to submit 15-minute block-wise POA demand data going forward per MYT Regulations, 2024.
- Transmission charges for AEML-D and TPC-D to be trued-up in the next control period once 15-minute POA data becomes available.
- Outcome of STU's pending appeal before APTEL (DFR No. 535 of 2024) on Base TCR computation to be factored into the final GCC methodology.
- • Transmission cost (TTSC) allocation among distribution licensees hinges on accurate, granular (15-minute) reporting of open-access/POA consumer demand — C&I open-access users should expect continued data-quality scrutiny.
- • No immediate change in InSTS tariffs or pass-through to end consumers from this order; the Rs 134.01 crore adjustment is already built into FY2025-26 TTSC sharing.
- • RE/storage developers and C&I buyers using partial open access should ensure their DISCOM correctly issues/reports 15-minute demand data, as disputes here directly affect transmission charge allocation and future true-ups.
- • Prospective methodology from the GCC process could refine how POA demand is netted against distribution licensee TCR — relevant for future transmission tariff design affecting open-access charges.
This is largely a procedural dismissal reaffirming MERC's existing Base TCR methodology rather than a substantive tariff change — C&I open-access users and developers see no immediate tariff impact. The real signal is regulatory emphasis on data discipline: DISCOMs and TSUs must resolve 15-minute POA demand reporting gaps via the GCC, and until that mechanism matures, transmission charge allocation for OA/POA consumers stays approximate. Developers structuring OA deals in Maharashtra should monitor the GCC-driven methodology and the pending APTEL appeal (DFR 535/2024), as future revisions could still alter cost-sharing prospectively.
Growthifye does not take responsibility for the accuracy of this information. Values are compiled from tariff orders published on the websites of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions and distribution licensees (plus CEA / MoP / Grid-India), parsed automatically and shown with their source. Always verify against the signed order before any commercial decision. This one-pager is a Vidura-assisted summary of the official order; the signed order prevails.