NEW DELHI: National grid operator Posoco has blocked access of 27 power distribution companies (discoms) across 13 states to electricity exchanges for failure to clear a cumulative bill of Rs 5,085 crore dues of generation companies.
This is the first time that such action has been taken under a rule introduced recently to stop discoms from sourcing power from the spot market to avoid clearing large bills from regular suppliers.
Bihar was the first to clear dues after Pocoso cracked the whip. Other states are also expected to start paying up. Besides Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Jharkhand, J&K, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh are the states that were barred from the exchanges.
Losing access to the exchanges may lead to shortages and resultant outages in the state.
