Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity's (APTEL) order that upheld a ₹600-crore award to JSW Energy. According to NDTV Profit, the dispute centres on whether directions issued by the Ministry of Power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act applied to JSW Energy's Unit-1 at Ratnagiri and whether the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) can reconsider its own order. APTEL on August 19 refused to allow MSEDCL to pursue a review before MERC, allowing the distributor to withdraw its appeal but stopping short of granting liberty to seek a review before the regulator.
The dispute follows a December 24, 2025, order by MERC directing MSEDCL to pay about ₹599 crore to JSW Energy. As reported by NDTV Profit, the amount includes ₹568 crore in differential energy charges and ₹31 crore in fixed charges, along with a late-payment surcharge. MERC held that the Ministry of Power's directions under Section 11 of the Electricity Act did not apply to JSW Energy's Unit-1 at Ratnagiri because the plant is an intrastate generating station, stating that the state government was therefore the appropriate authority. MSEDCL has already paid ₹250 crore to JSW Energy under Supreme Court directions, creating vested rights in favour of the generator.
What made the case particularly unusual was MERC's own position before APTEL. As reported by CNBC TV18, the regulator told the tribunal that its December 2025 order could be legally unsustainable and sought permission to reconsider it. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for MERC, told the tribunal that the regulator was willing to reconsider its own order and asked for the matter to be sent back to the commission. JSW Energy strongly opposed this move, describing it as an unprecedented situation where a regulator was effectively questioning its own order. The company argued that a regulator could not take sides in a dispute after passing its order. APTEL described MERC's position as 'unprecedented' and noted that MSEDCL had already pursued the dispute through multiple proceedings, including obtaining relief from the Supreme Court, indicating an attempt at forum shopping.
The development comes as JSW Energy continues to push ahead with its broader capacity expansion. Earlier this month, the company said it had added 1,166 MW of renewable capacity since April 2026, taking renewables to around 60% of its total installed capacity. Following the acquisition of Maruti Clean Coal and Power Ltd, JSW Energy's total installed generation capacity has risen to 14,920 MW. Its renewable portfolio now includes 3,125 MW of wind, 2,360 MW of solar, 1,696 MW of hybrid and 1,781 MW of hydro capacity, while thermal capacity stands at 5,958 MW. The company remains on track to add 3 GW of greenfield capacity in FY27, even as it navigates a challenging earnings backdrop.
JSW Energy's June-quarter profit fell 37%, although revenue and EBITDA edged higher. Shares of JSW Energy closed at ₹542.45 on Thursday, up 0.42%. The company's renewable expansion strategy positions it well for the transition to cleaner energy sources, with the ₹600-crore award providing financial stability in this growth phase. The latest APTEL ruling provides additional clarity and financial certainty for the company's ongoing capacity expansion plans and renewable energy initiatives, even as the dispute now escalates to the Supreme Court.
