More than a third of Indian Discoms downgraded in latest assessment as sector debts tops US$13 billion

By Tom Kenning
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Discoms in India regularly try to renegotiate PPA contracts because of poor forecast and financial mismanagement. Image: Engie.

The financial adversity of India’s struggling distribution companies (Discoms) has been reflected in a significant downgrading in the latest rankings by the Ministry of Power (MOP), giving yet more concern for renewable energy players hoping to have honoured contracts and timely payments.

Losses in India’s power distribution sector have also been calculated for the first time, reaching an average of nearly INR 1.04 trillion (~US$13 billion) in the period between FY19 and FY21.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

MOP analysis showed that the deficit is widening, with losses increasing by 10% during the period. This rise was almost entirely due to the sector’s rising gap between average cost of supply per unit versus average revenue realised (ACS-ARR gap).

Furthermore, of the 71 utilities ranked in the tenth ‘Annual integrated Rating & Ranking: Power Distribution Utilities’ report, which considers Discoms financial and operational performance, 25 were downgraded, while just two Discoms were upgraded, according to analysis by Mercom.

Three Discoms in Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya have become the first utilities to be given a D rating, a new low.

The ratings crash will bring concern to the renewable energy industry, given that Discoms’ woeful finances has been a root cause of the widespread incidences of contract renegotiations and delayed payments that have plagued the sector for years.

Solar and wind power firms had been buoyed by a high Court ruling in the state of Andhra Pradesh in April this year that mandated state Discoms to honour any power purchase agreements (PPAs) they had entered with electricity producers and settle any debts within six weeks. The ruling promised to bring relief to independent power producers in the state in terms of liquidity, credit profiles and the chasing of long-term payments.

At the time Vinay Rustagi, MD of research firm Bridge to India had said that the ruling could set a precedent for other state Discoms who were in the act of renegotiating contracts. However, he also noted that the ruling did not resolve the root cause of contract renegotiations and delayed payments which was the terrible state of Discom finances. The new Rankings fall demonstrates that the Discom finances remain in crisis.

Tariffs in the Indian solar sector have been edging upwards since the record lows of December 2020, as the industry battles with increased module prices and disruptive geopolitical events.

The MOP ranking also stated that despite India being a global flagship bearer for renewable energy deployment, the sector continues to witness losses in distribution despite numerous government schemes, subsidies and incentives to resolve these issues.

Read Next

September 4, 2025
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the joint forum of the Centre and States, has reduced the GST rate on renewable energy components from 12% to 5%. 
September 4, 2025
Indian solar manufacturer Waaree Energies has acquired a 64% equity stake in power transformer manufacturing company Kotsons.
September 3, 2025
India has added 2.8GW of rooftop solar in H1 2025, a 158% year-on-year surge from just 1.1GW in the same period last year.
September 1, 2025
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to continue the investigation on imported solar cells from India, Indonesia and Laos.
August 28, 2025
Indian solar manufacturing firm INA Solar has broken ground on its fourth 4.5GW cell production plant in Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh.
August 26, 2025
Jakson Engineers is investing over INR80 billion (US$912.5 million) to set up a 6GW integrated solar module, cell, and wafer plant.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines