The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has issued an order stating that wind power generating companies should get a rebate under respective Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) along with 25 percent of the late payment surcharge within thirty days of the order.

The commission has also given Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd six months to open the Letters of Credit.

The petitioners, which are independent wind power generating companies, have complained that the distribution companies did not honor the Revolving Letters of Credit as per PPAs, which gives one or two percent rebate on bills. They further informed the commission that under the PPA, this rebate will be available only through Letters of Credit, or the presentation of bills within one month of payment.

In the case a DISCOM fails to make the payment before the due date, it will have to pay interest at the existing base rate plus one percent.

In their defense, DISCOMs pleaded with the commission that their financial condition is bad. They then agreed to pay the rebate amount only if the petitioners do not insist on interest.

Petitioners have agreed to waive 75 percent of the late payment surcharge if the DISCOMs maintain that no further rebate or deductions will take place in the future and they will pay the rebate amount and surcharge within a period of thirty days as well as open a Letter of Credit for the realization of the amounts.

The commission observed that there is an admission of default in payment by the due dates, and both the parties agree to restrict to the interest portion to 25 percent if the principal rebate amount is paid within thirty days.

Recently, the Hyderabad High Court issued a stay on the enforcement of an order issued by the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC). The APERC order had curtailed the enforcement period of the Wind Tariff Order of 2015.

Nitin is a staff reporter at Mercomindia.com and writes on renewable energy and related sectors. Prior to Mercom, Nitin has worked for CNN IBN, India News, Agricultural Spectrum and Bureaucracy Today. He received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication at Manipal University and Master’s degree in International Relations from Jindal School of International Affairs. More articles from Nitin Kabeer