Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) has proposed an additional surcharge of 63 paise per unit on high-tension (HT) consumers procuring electricity through open access for the six months from Oct 1, 2026 to March 31.The proposal, placed before the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), is based on the distribution utility’s claim that it bears fixed costs under existing power purchase agreements even when consumers meet their electricity requirements from sources outside the utility.TNPDCL has estimated the net stranded cost attributable to open access consumers at ₹180.91 crore for the assessment period of Oct 2025 to March 2026. Based on an adjusted open access consumption of 2,891.13 million units, it worked out the additional surcharge at ₹0.63 per unit.The utility said open access had led to a portion of its contracted capacity remaining unutilised even though it continued to incur fixed costs. During the assessment period, the average allowed open access capacity was 712.25 MW, while the capacity considered stranded was 486.76 MW.TNPDCL has calculated its overall fixed cost at ₹8,795.15 crore, of which ₹384.18 crore was attributed to the stranded capacity. After factoring in transmission and distribution charges already recovered from open access consumers, the net stranded amount was worked out at ₹180.91 crore.The latest proposal comes after TNPDCL had sought a nil additional surcharge for the preceding six-month period from April 1 to Sept 30, 2026. Based on data for April-Sept 2025, the utility had said the standard cost worked out to zero after adjusting the demand charges collected from open access consumers.The power discom had informed TNERC that ₹282.64 crore relating to stranded costs for Oct 2025-March 2026 remained unrecovered, pending disposal of its earlier petition. It has sought an early decision on that petition.TNPDCL has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on the latest petition. Submissions can be made to the chief financial controller, Regulatory Cell, TNPDCL, or by email to cfcregcell@gmail.com. The deadline for filing comments is Oct 8.
