How infrastructural challenges, legacy issues could impact power reforms

A series of regulations aimed at improving electricity supplies and empowering customers could reshape India's electricity market, provided infrastructure and legacy issues are sorted out first

Over the last fortnight, the Union Ministry of Power has issued a series of regulations aimed at simplifying electricity supply in the country. From time-of-the-day (ToD) tariff to market coupling and changes to the Electricity Rules, the idea is to make electricity more market-oriented and reduce regulatory hurdles. But infrastructural challenges and legacy issues could impact these developments.

Rights of consumers: In the latest amendment to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2023, the power ministry has introduced ToD to be made effective by April 2024 for industrial consumers and for all other consumers by 2025. It has also