The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation (TNPDCL) has communicated to the Superintending Engineers to not collect network charges for solar energy rooftop installations from industrial consumers who had gone to the court against collection of the charges.
The Chief Financial Officer of the TNPDCL said in the communication dated April 3, 2025, that networking charges were collected from October 22, 2021 for rooftop solar energy installations and some High Tension consumers and consumer associations had filed a case with the Madras High Court against the charges. The court, in a judgment given on December 22, 2024, ruled in favour of the petitioners.
Hence, the current consumption charges should be collected along with networking charges for those with rooftop solar energy installations. If a consumer requests for exemption of the charges based on the court order, it should not be collected. Meanwhile, the TNPDCL has decided to file appeals before the division bench of the Madras High Court and it will issue separate instructions on refund of the charges collected.
The South India Spinners Association welcomed the communication and said that those who had not gone to the court should now make themselves eligible for the exemption.
Published - April 04, 2025 08:40 pm IST
