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APTEL Demands Swift Payment of Discom Dues
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has issued a firm directive, ordering the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to start paying off roughly ₹38,500 crore in power distribution company (discom) dues. APTEL insisted this process begin within three weeks, rejecting the DERC's request for an extension until July 2026 as "unreasonable and unacceptable." The tribunal stated that further delays would unfairly burden consumers.
CAG Audit Rejected, Independent Review Mandated
APTEL rejected the DERC's request for a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the discoms. The tribunal clarified that while the Supreme Court had ordered a 'strict and intensive audit,' it did not name the CAG as the only auditor. APTEL also pointed out that the discoms had not been given a chance to present their arguments before the audit decision was made. Instead, APTEL instructed the DERC to appoint an independent chartered accountant within a week and finish the audit in three months, to meet the Supreme Court's directive.
Understanding Regulatory Assets and Consumer Costs
These outstanding dues are mainly 'regulatory assets' (RAs). RAs represent expenses related to fuel costs and other operational changes faced by discoms that are deferred. These costs are not immediately recovered through current electricity rates and build up over time. They are eventually passed on to consumers through surcharges added to monthly electricity bills. The DERC had previously told APTEL that total regulatory assets in Delhi reached ₹38,552 crore as of January.
Specific Discom Amounts Approved for Recovery
The specific amounts approved for recovery include ₹19,174 crore for BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), ₹12,333 crore for BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), and ₹7,046 crore for Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL). These figures cover essential expenditures the discoms made for supplying electricity. The tribunal's order marks a new stage in managing these long-standing debts, affecting both the discoms' finances and Delhi's electricity bills for residents.