In a welcome contrast, outstanding dues payable by discoms fell year-on-year in March 2021, according to newly-released government statistics.
Data relating to March 2021 was released on the PRAAPTI portal recently. Here are some highlights:
- This outstanding amount includes “current dues” and “overdue” amounts. A current due becomes “overdue” when it remains unpaid for a period of sixty days or more, which is the grace period.
- It is also interesting to note that the “overdue” amount as of March 31, 2021 was nearly 2 per cent lower than that in March 31, 2020.
- Current dues (outstanding for less than 60 days) of discoms stood at Rs.10,962 crore, down 12.5 per cent from Rs.12,529 crore. This is indicative of timely payment in recent months.
- The amount billed by power generators to discoms during March 2021 stood at Rs.17,835 crore. This was 3.4 per cent higher than the Rs.17,083 crore billed in March 2020. At least eight days in March 2020 were affected by the COVID-related nationwide lockdown.
- It may be mentioned that total electricity generation in March 2021 was nearly 22 per cent higher than in March 2021. If amount billed by generators to discoms has grown only 3.4 per cent, it only implies that discoms have been purchasing from other sources—principally from power exchanges.
- As of March 31, 2021, of the total outstanding of power discoms, 30.82 per cent was payable to Central PSU generators, 30.82 per cent to independent power producers (IPPs) and the remaining 16.68 per cent to renewable energy generators. The increasing share of RE generators (March 2020: 10.95 per cent) is suggestive of higher procurement of renewable energy by discoms.
PFC/REC scheme
Under the Central government’s PFC/REC Aatmanirbhar Scheme aimed at alleviating financial stress of discoms, a total of Rs.75,000 crore was disbursed in FY21. This is expected to reduce the financial stress of state government-owned power distribution utilities.
Source for featured chart and data for table, www.praapti.in
