India: Oil, Gas & Electricity

SC in Punjab State Power Corporation Limited v Talwandi Sabo Power Limited & Ors., 2026 INSC 515 , set aside the order of the APTEL and restored the penalty order of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) against Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL).

The Electricity Act, 2003, vests tariff determination authority exclusively in State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs), while the Central Government retains policy-making power at the central level which provides benefit to both i.e., state and central power utilities. This includes the authority to design financial incentives aimed at promoting specific generation technologies.

By a notification dated May 18, 2026, the Ministry of Power brought into force, from June 1, 2026, the Jan Vishwas Act amendments under Schedule Serial No. 58. Consequently, certain provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 stand amended.

Green tech and clean energy innovations are no longer “optional extras” for the Indian economy—they are central to India’s climate commitments, energy security, and long-term industrial growth.

APTEL, vide judgement dated 27.04.2026 in Appeal Nos. 190 of 2019 and 216 of 2019 titled Damodar Valley Corporation v West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission & Another, dismissed the appeals filed by Damodar Valley Corporation (“DVC”), upholding the finding of the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (“WBERC”) that radial mode of supply by a generating company to a distribution licensee cannot be considered as sale to a consumer.

Supreme Court through its judgement dated 07.05.2026 in the matter of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission v Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited has held that consumers cannot be required to pay for depreciation costs for power plants which are no longer supplying electricity.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission ("CERC"), vide its order dated March 31, 2026 ("CERC Order"), has determined the value of ‘X' for computation of deviation (in percentage) for Wind and Solar Sellers ("WS Sellers"), i.e., generating stations based on wind, solar or wind-solar hybrid resources, under the CERC (Deviation Settlement Mechanism and Related Matters) Regulations, 2024 ("DSM Regulations, 2024")

On April 11, 2026, the Government of National Capital Territory (“NCT”) of Delhi (“GoNCTD”), released the Draft Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy, 2026-2030 (“Draft Policy/Delhi EV Policy, 2026”) seeking stakeholder comments within 30 (thirty) days (i.e., by May 11, 2026).

The Central Electricity Authority (“CEA”), on February 23, 2026, had released the draft CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (“Draft Regulations”)1 for stakeholder consultation, inviting comments by March 26, 2026. Subsequently, on April 1, 2026, CEA notified the CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (“2026 Regulations”). The 2026 Regulations carry forward the amendments proposed in the Draft Regulations.