In a significant development, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), in orders issued over the past few days, has granted transmission licences to seven intrastate schemes that were awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism.
The seven transmission service providers (TSP) have been granted transmission licence by MERC are:
- Velgaon Power Transmission Ltd (Ceigall India Ltd)
- Wagdari Transmission Ltd (KCC Buildcon Pvt Ltd)
- NES Dharashiv Transmission Ltd (subsidiary of Montecarlo Ltd)
- Saswad Transmission Ltd (MSETCL)
- Umred Power Transmission Ltd (MSETCL)
- Powergrid West Maharashtra Transmission Ltd (PGCIL)
- Jejuri Hinjewadi Power Transmission Ltd (Tata Power)
(The entities in brackets are holding companies of the respective TSPs. MSETCL is Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd; PGCIL is Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd)
In each case, the transmission licence will be effective from the date of issuance of the MERC order and shall remain in force for a period of 25 years, unless revoked earlier.
Of the seven orders, two (#3 and #6 in the list above) were issued on September 3, 2026 while the remaining five, on September 1, 2026.
In each of the seven cases, MERC, through separate orders, MERC has also approved and adopted the tariffs discovered through the TBCB process.
According to information available with tndindia.com, a total of eight intrastate-TBCB schemes have been formally awarded to winning developers so far (up to September 5, 2026). Of these, while seven have been issued transmission licences, the one pending scheme is “Jalna Power Transmission Ltd,” a wholly-owned subsidiary of state transco MSETCL.
InSTS-TBCB in Maharashtra
Maharashtra has made significant progress on the intrastate-TBCB front. While eight such schemes have been formally transferred to winning developers, the letter of intent for one – Latur REZ Transmission Ltd – has been issued (to Montecarlo Ltd). In another six, bidders have been shortlisted for opening of initial price bids. This apart, at least ten other InSTS-TBCB schemes are under various stages of bidder selection.
On the other hand, the TBCB mode had to be scrapped in favour of the nomination route in the case of one scheme, so far – Ambernath Power Transmission Ltd. (Learn more)
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