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APTEL rejects Delhi regulator's plea to delay power dues payments
APTEL rejected DERC's request for more time to clear nearly Rs 30,000 crore in dues linked to Delhi's power distributors, enforcing the existing repayment schedule. The decision follows Supreme Court directions from August 2025 to clear past dues by 2028, potentially affecting tariffs in the city.
Why It Matters
The ruling could lead to higher electricity bills for Delhi households and businesses and shapes how overdue liabilities in the power sector are recovered.
Timeline
2 Events
APTEL rejects DERC plea; adherence to existing repayment schedule confirmed
April 20, 2026
The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) rejected a plea by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) seeking more time to clear dues of nearly Rs 30,000 crore linked to power distribution companies, meaning Delhi must follow the already established repayment plan and may face tariff adjustments or funding changes as a result.
Supreme Court directions on clearing past dues (August 2025)
August 2025
The Supreme Court of India directed all state electricity regulators to begin clearing past dues from April 2024 and finish the process by April 2028, and allowed regulators to revise tariffs to recover the money.