Tata Power ‘collected’ Rs 7,145 crore in excess? Odisha Legislators seek refund in Assembly

The issue of alleged excess billing by Tata Power reverberated through the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday during Zero Hour, with multiple legislators demanding immediate corrective action. Raising the matter, senior leaders Ganeswar Behera and Byomkesh Ray accused the power distribution company of collecting electricity charges far beyond the tariff approved by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) over the last eight years.

According to the legislators, Tata Power has collected a staggering Rs 7,145 crore more than the permissible limit. Citing provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, they emphasised that any excess amount collected from consumers must be refunded without delay. They further noted that regulatory bodies across the country are empowered to enforce such refunds and ensure consumer protection.

However, both MLAs expressed concern that the OERC has not issued any direction to Tata Power or other distribution companies to return the excess amount. They argued that the inaction of the regulatory commission has denied lakhs of consumers the relief they are legally entitled to.

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Drawing parallels from Andhra Pradesh, the legislators highlighted that authorities there have ordered distribution companies to refund excess collections along with interest, to be returned to consumers in 12 instalments. They urged the state government and OERC to adopt a similar approach in Odisha.

Behera and Ray demanded that the OERC immediately intervene and issue directives ensuring the refund of Rs 7,145 crore, stressing that failing to act would amount to injustice to electricity consumers across the state.