The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has accepted the Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL)’s request to approve an additional surcharge of ₹1.22 (~$0.014)/kWh for full open access consumers and ₹0.83 (~$0.009)/kWh for partial open access power consumers.

The additional surcharge will be levied on all consumers within the power supply area of PSPCL, provided the contracted capacity of the distribution company (DISCOM) remains stranded during the period.

Background

The petitioner, PSPCL, sought the Commission’s permission to levy an additional surcharge of ₹0.83 (~$0.009)/kWh on partial open access consumers within its jurisdiction. The DISCOM also sought an additional surcharge of ₹1.22 (~$0.014)/kWh for full open access consumers.

The additional surcharge would be valid between April 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025.

The petitioner submitted the power generation and consumption details to compute the applicable additional surcharge for the period.

It submitted that it has generating capacities to meet the energy requirements of all consumers, including open access consumers. In case of open access consumers not procuring power from the DISCOM, the equivalent quantum of power will remain stranded for the period.

The petitioner also contended that an additional surcharge would be payable even if its transmission infrastructure is not utilized.

It argued that due to the stranded power, DISCOMs are incurring fixed costs, which will be passed on to the consumers.

Commission’s Analysis

The Commission observed that the petitioner installed/contracted generation capacities from various sources to meet its supply obligations. It also observed that the petitioner needed to bear fixed costs due to these procurement contracts.

It noted that even consumers procuring power partially through open access pay a fixed charge for the stranded capacity. However, consumers procuring power completely through open access do not pay any fixed charges.

Holding that the additional surcharge must be calculated based on fixed charges paid by the consumer to the petitioner, it pproved an additional surcharge of ₹1.22 (~$0.014)/kWh for full open access consumers and ₹0.83 (~$0.009)/kWh for partial open access power consumers.

In 2024, PSERC issued additional surcharge rates for full and partial open access power consumers.

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