KSERC denies KSEB's request for long-term power contract approval

19 May 2023 CW Team

The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC) has rejected a series of long-term power purchase agreements totaling 465 MW that were made by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

The KSEB had requested approval for multiple power supply agreements (PSAs) with Jhabua Power (115 MW), Jindal Power (150 MW), Jindal India Thermal Power (100 MW), and Jhabua Power (100 MW) under 25-year Design, Build, Finance, Own and Operate (DBFOO) contracts. However, in an order issued on May 10, T K Jose, Commission chairman and A J Wilson, member stated that the Commission is rejecting the KSEB's petition for final orders regarding the power drawal from the "unapproved PSAs."

The KSEB had faced criticism for various violations in the execution of these long-term purchase agreements. These violations included not adhering to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Power, deviations in the selection of bidders and power capacity, and failing to obtain prior approval from the Commission for signing power purchase agreements with the power generators.

It was highlighted that some of these deviations could have resulted in an additional liability of Rs 2.37 billion per year.

The power purchase agreements for 465 MW were part of a larger long-term procurement plan for 865 MW, for which power supply agreements were already made in 2016 and 2017.

However, the Electricity Regulatory Commission identified certain procedural deviations in the agreements. It was discovered that the KSEB had not obtained prior approval from either the Commission or the Central government for these agreements or the deviations from the guidelines. The KSEB, on the other hand, denied any wrongdoing.

Also read:
GAIL to build Maharashtra ethane cracker at Rs 400 bn
Noida, Greater Noida to set up waste-to-energy plant

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..