Page 2 - Electricity

NSE launches out monthly electricity futures to hedge price volatility

The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) on Monday launched monthly electricity futures contracts which allow power buyers, sellers, traders and retailers to manage price risks. As of 2 pm, the contracts recorded more than 4,000 lots, representing more than 200 million units of electricity. The total turnover of trade has crossed 87.36 crore, with the volume-weighted average price recorded at Rs 4,368/MWh (megawatt-hour), the exchange said in a statement. "The first trade opened at Rs 4,430/MWh, and as of the reporting time, the price was trending around Rs 4,364/MWh, reflecting healthy participation across participants including power generators, discoms, large industrial consumers, and market intermediaries, it said. According to the exchange, the launch provides a transparent, risk-managed platform for participants to hedge electricity price volatility, support long-term power planning, and contribute to country's broader energy transition goals.

FGD rule relaxation may cut electricity cost by 25-30 paise per unit

The government's move to ease sulphur emission rules for most coal-fired power plants strikes a delicate balance between costs, climate and compliance and is expected to cut electricity costs by 25-30 paise per unit, officials said on Sunday. In a gazette notification, the government has restricted the 2015 mandate of installing flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems that remove sulphur from a power plants' exhaust gases, only to plants located within 10 kilometres of cities with a population exceeding one million. Plants in critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis while all other plants -- accounting for nearly 79 per cent of India's thermal power capacity -- are exempt from mandatory FGD installation. The notification stated that the decision was made following a detailed analysis by the Central Pollution Control Board, which found increased carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the operation of existing control ...

MCX to launch India's first electricity futures contracts on July 10

The exchange will initially launch cash-settled contracts for the current and next three-month periods, but they will subsequently be available for all 12 calendar months, said MCX

Tata Power applies to expand electricity distribution in Maharashtra

Tata Power has applied to distribute electricity to various pockets of Maharashtra as part of its efforts to expand beyond the financial capital, officials said on Thursday. The company has filed for a license across key growth regions, including parts of Mumbai, Pune, Sambhaji Nagar and Nashik, they added. It can be noted that through amendments made to the Electricity Act, private distribution companies are allowed to apply to serve various parts. However, they were hesitant to apply due to the high investments required for setting up such infrastructure. In 2022, Tata Power's rival Adani Group, with which it competes in Mumbai suburban areas, applied for select areas and expressed intent to invest up to Rs 5,700 crore towards the initiative. In the application submitted before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), seeking the grant of a distribution license to serve key regions across the state, the Tata Group company has evinced interest in serving areas li

State-run Mahavitaran seeks licence to supply electricity across Mumbai

In a move aimed at expanding its footprint into Mumbai, state-run power utility MSEDCL has filed an application before the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), seeking a parallel licence to distribute electricity across the financial capital. In a release, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL or Mahavitaran) said the petition has been submitted under sections 14 and 15 of the Electricity Act, 2003, along with provisions of the MERC Rules, 2006, and the Electricity Distribution Licence Rules, 2005. The company has urged the commission to grant it permission to supply electricity to key regions in Mumbai -- ranging from Colaba to Mahim, Bandra to Dahisar, Vikhroli to Chunabhatti and Mankhurd, as well as Chena, Kajupada, and Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation limits. Currently, power in Mumbai is distributed by three players -- civic utility Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), private companies Adani Electricity

Nepalese Foreign Minister calls for 'green energy cooperation' with India

Green energy cooperation will foster mutual interdependence between New Delhi and Kathmandu, Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzoo Rana Deuba said on Thursday, adding that it can be done by promoting clean and sustainable energy sources. India's commitment to import 10,000 MW electricity over the next decade reflects the growing momentum in Nepal-India energy cooperation, Deuba said while speaking at the NepalIndia Strategic Dialogue organised by think tanks Ananta Aspen Centre and Centre for Innovative Foreign Policy in Kathmandu. Nepal and India had signed a long-term agreement in January 2024 to facilitate the export of 10,000 MW of electricity to India in the next 10 years. The foremost priority in Nepal- India relations is the need to advance our economic partnership by intensifying cooperation in trade, transit and investment, Deuba asserted. Nepal's enormous hydro-potential offers a clean climate resilient and renewable energy source that can be harnessed for generations to come, s

Govt plans additional Rs 5,400 crore VGF to create 30 GWh battery storage

Centre also extends ISTS charges waiver for BESS and storage projects till June 2028, plans 1,100 kV UHV lines and revises RoW compensation linked to land value

Strike against discom privatisation in UP may affect power supply: AIPEF

Electricity supply in the country may get affected on July 9 as over 27 lakh power workers will go on a nationwide strike against the government's decision to privatise two distribution companies (discoms) in Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to privatise Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (PVVNL) and Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd (DVVNL), which alone cover 42 of 75 districts of the state, Shailendra Dubey, Chairman of All India Power Engineers' Federation (AIPEF), said. Dubey alleged that Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd and some big officials of the government are in collusion with selected private houses. They want to sell discom assets worth lakhs of crores to private houses at throwaway prices, Dubey alleged. He said "the process is on to float the tender inviting bids from interested parties. We are against this, and over 27 power employees across states will hold a one-day strike in July against the privatisation of the two discoms. The strike

Electricity bills of Delhi consumers to be hiked by 7-10% in May-Jun period

The electricity bills of power consumers in Delhi will be hiked by 7-10 per cent in the May-June period due to revision of PPAC charged by the discoms, officials said on Sunday. The power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) refers to rise in fuel (coal, gas) costs incurred by the generation companies which is recovered by discoms from the consumers. It is calculated as percentage of fixed charge and energy charge (units consumed) components of the electricity bill. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in its separate orders earlier this month allowed the three discoms to recover the PPAC of third quarter of 2024-25 in the May-June 2024 period. The PPAC allowed are 7.25 per cent for BRPL, 8.11 per cent for BYPL and 10.47 percent for TPDDL. No reaction was available from the discoms on the increase in PPAC allowed by the DERC. The United Residents of Delhi (URD), an umbrella body of residents welfare associations in the city, slammed the move as "arbitrary". "The proces

Spain's power supply almost restored after one of Europe's worst blackouts

Power had almost fully returned to Spain early Tuesday morning as many questions remained about what caused one of Europe's most severe blackouts that grounded flights, paralysed metro systems, disrupted mobile communications and shut down ATMs across Spain and Portugal. By 6:30 am, more than 99 per cent of energy demand in Spain had been restored, the country's electricity operator Red Electrica said. Power had returned to several regions across Spain and Portugal as the nations reeled from the still-unexplained widespread blackout that had turned airports and train stations into campgrounds for stranded travellers. Monday night, many city residents, including in Spain's capital of Madrid, went to sleep in total darkness. The normally illuminated cathedral spires of Barcelona's Sagrada Familia Basilica became indistinguishable from the night sky. Streets remained deserted even in neighbourhoods where lights flickered back on, as people stayed home after a day of chaos. We have a l

Why reliable electricity is vital for healthy beginnings, hopeful futures

Access to quality and reliable healthcare is a fundamental human right

Expanding storage for green energy key to 24-hour electricity in India

There are several energy storage solutions, but more reliable and significant at a grid level are battery storage and Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage

Power planning: Proactive management key to preventing shortages

The Grid Controller of India, the NLDC's parent organisation, has predicted a one-in-three chance of a shortfall in May alone

Cuba suffers another massive power outage, millions left in in dark

Cuba suffered a massive power outage Friday night affecting Havana and the country's provinces that left millions in the dark. Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines said at around 8:15 pm local time an outage at the Diezmero substation on the outskirts of Havana had caused a significant loss of generation in western Cuba and, with it, the failure of the National Electric System. The ministry said on its account on the social platform X that it is working on the recovery process. The streets of Havana were dark and empty, with light coming only from the windows of hotels that had generators. Internet service was affected. People in provinces as far away as Guantanamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara reported experiencing blackouts with just flickers of light. Earlier, the Electric Union, the state agency that regulates the sector, said in its daily report that peak-hour demand would be around 3,250 megawatts and the deficit would reach around 1,380 megawatts, meaning 42%

Hot summer likely to boost power demand and lift power utility stocks

The regulated tariff model of NTPC provides clear visibility on revenues, and there could be RoE (return on equity) increases given expansion in both thermal and RE

HVDC a $30 bn market but India barely in the game: Sterlite Power MD

Renewable energy is now the cheapest power source. Companies primarily buy it for cost savings, with environmental benefits as a bonus

Himachal to allocate 22 new hydropower projects of 828 MW capacity: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said the state government is set to allocate 22 new hydropower projects with a total capacity of 828 MW. The projects, ranging from 6.5 MW to 400 MW, are located across the districts of Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Shimla. He said the largest allocation comprising nine projects with a total capacity of 595 MW is planned for the Chenab river basin. Additionally, eight projects totalling 169 MW are earmarked for the Sutlej river basin, four projects with a combined capacity of 55 MW for the Ravi basin and one project with a capacity of 9 MW for the Beas basin. He said for the first time, the state government would allot these projects to other states, union territories and central and state undertakings. "The projects would be assigned on a 40-year lease with an upfront premium of Rs 10 lakh per megawatt," said the CM. He said that a letter has already been issued by the Energy Directorate to secretaries of states and ..

Solar power projects face higher costs after customs duty notification

Section 58 deals with licensing private bonded warehouses where imported goods belonging to the licensee may be deposited without payment of any Customs duties

Monthly electricity billing for power loom units under consideration: TN CM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has said that the monthly electricity billing system for power loom units in the state was under consideration. Stalin made a surprise visit to a private power loom unit here on Thursday night and interacted with the owner and workers of the factory. The owner thanked the CM for increasing the free supply of electricity from 750 units to 1,000 units for the power loom units. He requested the CM to implement the monthly electricity billing system in power looms instead of the once in two months which is in place now. Responding to the request, Stalin said, "Monthly electricity reading system is under the consideration of the Tamilnadu government." Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy and Erode District Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara accompanied the CM to the power loom unit. Later, attending the DMK party functionaries meeting at a marriage hall, Stalin asked the cadres to strive hard to secure a minimum of 200 seats in th

Kerala govt hiked power tariffs to benefit Adani, alleges Opposition

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday accused the Kerala government of hiking the electricity tariff "to benefit ports-to-energy conglomerate Adani" by bringing it into the power purchase system in the state. Chennithala alleged that the long term power purchase agreement signed during the UDF administration in 2016 to buy electricity at rates below Rs 5 per unit was cancelled during the LDF rule to facilitate the entry of Adani into this system. The Kerala government had on Friday announced a 16 paise per unit increase in electricity tariffs for the 2024-25 financial year, effective from December 5. An additional hike of 12 paise per unit is set to follow in the 2025-26 financial year. The Congress leader said this move of the government makes it clear that it was hand-in-glove with the power producing companies, especially Adani. "Adani is the biggest beneficiary of this move. This decision of the government is aimed at bringing Adani into the power purchasing sys