Distribution companies (DISCOMs) owed ₹200.85 billion (~$2.67 billion) to renewable energy generators (excluding disputed amounts) in overdue payments at the end of November 2021, according to data released by the Ministry of Power.

The figure reported for November was marginally higher than ₹197.12 billion at the end of October 2021.

According to the data released by MoP’s payment ratification and analysis portal PRAAPTI, the outstanding payments to renewable energy generators stood at ₹6.86 billion (~$91.45 million) at the end of November 2021. At the end of October 2021, the figure was at ₹5.82 billion (~$77.83 million).

The DISCOMs released ₹34.64 billion (~$461.60 million) in outstanding amounts to power generators in November,a 23% decrease compared to ₹45.04 billion (~$600.14 million) released in the previous month.

The DISCOMs also released ₹119.66 billion (~$1.62 billion) in overdue amounts in November, a decrease of 33% over October.

The overdue amount owed by DISCOMs to power generators at the end of November stood at ₹1.008 trillion (~$13.64 billion), increasing by 5.7% from ₹954.1 billion (~$12.91 billion) in October. The outstanding amount stood at 120.11 billion (~$1.62 billion), a 33% decrease compared to October.

Among the states, Maharashtra had the highest backlog of ₹185.94 (~$2.47 billion), followed by Tamil Nadu with ₹169.81 billion (~$2.26 billion), and Rajasthan with ₹112.87 billion (~$1.50 billion).

In terms of ease of doing business with DISCOMs, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Telangana remained at the bottom of the rung. Among the best performing states were Gujarat, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Nagaland. Arunachal Pradesh had no overdue amount.

Non-conventional energy generators to whom the DISCOMs owed the most at the end of the month included Tata Power, Adani Green Energy, and Hero Future Energies, with ₹28.72 billion (~$382.78 million), ₹19.51 billion (~$260.02 million), and ₹10.96 billion (~$146.07 million), respectively.

In July this year, MoP issued detailed guidelines for a reform-based result-linked power distribution program over the next five years. The program aims to improve the quality and reliability of power supply through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector. The outlay for the program is ₹3.03 trillion (~$40.82 billion), with budgetary support of ₹976.31 billion (~$13.1 billion) from the Government of India.

 

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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