Odisha recently offered three of its power distribution companies (discoms) for privatisation and received bids from industries such as Tata Power and India Power Corporation Ltd.

The bids called earlier this year for Western, Southern and Northern Electricity Supply Companies, named, SOUTHCO and NESCO.

Tata Power has submitted bids for all three discoms, while IPCL has submitted proposals for SOUTHCO and WESCO.
This makes Tata Power the only bidder for NESCO. Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission, which conducted the bidding, could not be reached for comments.

It is Odisha’s second attempt at privatising its power distribution, and it has already conducted a successful distribution franchise in different areas of the state.

Feedback Energy Distribution Company infrastructure runs distribution franchisee in four circles – Puri, Balugaon, Khurda and Nayagarh areas under CESU.

Tata Power recently won power distribution licences under the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) in Odisha. The licence sustained to the circles of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Paradeep and Dhenkanal in CESU area.

After, the ownership of the discoms would vest with the private player.
The company would manage power purchase, build infrastructure, manage billing and collection and would stick to pre-decided targets of bringing down losses.

In its annual report, Tata Power said it would not pursue any greenfield or brownfield expansion in thermal power and would explore options in the distribution business in Indian and international markets and acquire transmission assets, this paper reported.

The company further said it would focus on augmenting transmission infrastructure in Mumbai operations. It added it would also look for suitable opportunities for acquiring few transmission assets through mergers and acquisitions. In its distribution business, Tata Power will also explore services business opportunities in both domestic and international markets.

Written By- Mousami Jena

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