Hyderabad, Oct. 15: The Telangana High Court has granted interim relief to state power distribution companies TGSPDCL and TGNPDCL in a dispute over ₹24.15 crore in electricity dues.
Justice E.V. Venugopal passed the interim order on Wednesday, October 14, while hearing a petition filed by the two DISCOMS. The court restrained coercive action based on four disputed invoices uploaded by Lanco Kondapalli Power Limited on the Center’s PRAAPTI portal. The protection will continue until October 28, 2026.
The dispute concerns historical claims arising from a 1997 power purchase agreement between the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Electricity Board and Lanco Kondapalli Power Limited.
Telangana DISCOMS Challenge ₹24.15 Crore Power Dues
The discoms told the court that the power plant began operations nearly 27 months behind schedule. They said disputes over certain cost components for 2000-01 had remained under litigation for years.
In June 2026, the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) ruled in favor of the power generator on certain financing and procurement cost claims, along with interest.
TGSPDCL and TGNPDCL challenged the CERC decision before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). The appeal is scheduled for hearing on October 28.
Meanwhile, Lanco Kondapalli Power Limited uploaded four invoices totaling ₹24,15,84,988 on the PRAAPTI portal. The discoms argued that these invoices concern historical claims rather than payments for electricity currently being supplied.
They contended that the disputed invoices should not fall under the Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022. They also challenged a procedure introduced by the Centre in 2023.
The discoms sought protection against coercive action by the Centre, portal authorities and grid operators while the dispute remains pending. They also requested the removal of the invoices from the portal.
The utilities told the court that Telangana’s peak electricity demand had reached 19,892 MW. They said external purchases account for around 25 to 30 per cent of the state’s electricity requirements.
According to the petitioners, restrictions on power purchases or reductions in contracted supply could affect farmers, households and industries.
The High Court’s order provides temporary protection to the discoms. However, it does not finally resolve the underlying dispute over the electricity dues, which remains subject to further proceedings.
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