BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), which distributes electricity in parts of Delhi, has filed a petition seeking approval to directly purchase up to 400 MW of power from Greenko Energies Private Limited. This request is for a short-term power supply, from May 1, 2025, to July 31, 2025, during specific time slots: from midnight to 2:00 AM and from 8:00 PM to midnight. The petition was submitted due to an anticipated power shortage in the peak summer months of FY 2025-26.

BRPL has faced challenges in meeting its power demand during the summer, despite having already secured a substantial amount of power through competitive bidding processes. These earlier efforts were in line with Ministry of Power guidelines and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) regulations. However, there was still a shortfall, particularly during the late-night and evening hours, which BRPL intended to address by procuring power from Greenko.

Greenko offered to supply 400 MW of peak power, which led BRPL to propose a direct purchase arrangement. This was confirmed with a Letter of Award (LOA) from BRPL, which Greenko accepted. Upon reviewing the petition, DERC found some discrepancies in the LOA regarding the quantity and duration of the power supply. BRPL clarified that it was only seeking to procure up to 200 MW of power, amounting to 92.4 million units (MU) from Greenko, for the period from May 16, 2025, to July 31, 2025.

BRPL further explained that it had made efforts to secure power through other means, such as bilateral purchases via the e-DEEP Portal and participation in power banking tenders. They emphasized that the Greenko purchase would only cover a small fraction of their overall power requirements. Additionally, Greenko offered a customized deal, reducing the tariff and adjusting the supply hours to better match BRPL’s needs.

The DERC, after analyzing the petition, found that the rates proposed by Greenko were lower than those offered by other suppliers. While the Greenko purchase would lead to a slight increase in BRPL’s overall power purchase cost, the Commission recognized the urgent need for power and the importance of ensuring a continuous electricity supply during peak demand. DERC also noted that the prices Greenko offered were comparable to those obtained by other distribution companies for similar time slots.

The DERC approved the procurement of 92.4 MU of power from Greenko, acknowledging that failing to secure this power could lead to load shedding in BRPL’s service areas. However, the Commission directed BRPL to prioritize sourcing power from the cheapest available option, whether that be from the Power Exchange or Greenko. The Commission also clarified that the tariff for this procurement would be reviewed during the true-up process for FY 2025-26, and any additional costs beyond the approved tariff would be BRPL’s responsibility.

Finally, the DERC advised BRPL to better plan for potential power shortages in the future and initiate procurement processes earlier. They also made it clear that this approval should not set a precedent for future cases, a condition that BRPL accepted.