Chennai: Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has approved collection of a surcharge of 0.54 per unit by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) from industries purchasing power from third parties and power exchanges for the period between Dec 12, 2024, and March 31, 2025. This is over and above the 1.92 collected as the cross-subsidy surcharge.
TNPDCL had filed a petition before TNERC for levy of an additional surcharge of 1.06 per unit from Oct 2024 to March 2025. TNERC agreed to 50% of this to be levied from the date of its order.
TNPDCL estimated the fixed charges it had to pay for long and medium-term power purchase commitments, as well as its stranded capacity (not being utilised as industries opted for third-party power), at 8,790 crore. The additional surcharge aims at recovering fixed costs borne by the distribution licensee due to stranded power obligations.
Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association (Tasma) objected to the levy of the additional surcharge on the purchase of green energy through open access. "The additional surcharge will push the already struggling industries into further financial stress," said Tasma chief advisor K Venkatachalam.