CSERC Issues Tender For Detailed Audit Of CSPDCL To Address Revenue Gaps In Chhattisgarh

The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has issued a tender seeking a consulting firm to perform a detailed audit of the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL). The purpose of this audit is to investigate why the state-owned distribution company operated without recovering its regulatory assets or revenue gap during the financial years 2016-17, 2020-21, and 2023-24. This action is a direct result of a directive from the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), which issued an order on September 12, 2025.

The tender, titled ‘T-01/2025,’ outlines the scope of work and the conditions for interested consulting firms. The CSERC is looking for a competent and reputable firm to carry out this intensive audit, which will form the basis of a contract between the selected firm and the Commission. The tender document specifies that the bidding firms must meet certain eligibility requirements. They must have completed at least three jobs in the last three years involving the preparation of a tariff petition for a distribution licensee or assisting a commission with tariff petitions. Additionally, firms must have a minimum of 10 consultants on their regular payroll and an average annual turnover of at least Rs 5 Crore over the last three financial years.

The tender also includes several disqualification clauses. Firms that have been awarded or are in the process of being awarded a consultancy service by CSPDCL are advised not to bid due to a potential conflict of interest. Additionally, consortiums are not permitted to submit bids, and each firm is limited to a single bid. The deadline for submitting tender proposals is October 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with the opening of technical bids scheduled for the same day at 3:30 PM. The financial bids will be opened on October 17, 2025, at 3:30 PM.

The CSERC has clarified that the final decision on the bids rests with them, and they reserve the right to cancel any or all bids without providing a reason. Firms seeking clarification on the tender document were able to submit their queries in writing until October 1, 2025. The financial proposals should clearly outline the total cost, inclusive of all fees and taxes. The Commission has also set a timeframe for the completion of the project, stating that the successful bidder must finish the assignment within 90 days of receiving the letter of award. A penalty of 1% per week, up to a maximum of 10% of the contract value, will be levied for any delays. The terms of payment are set at 50% upon the submission of a draft report and the remaining 50% after the report is accepted by the Commission. The successful bidder will also be required to provide a Performance Bank Guarantee equal to 10% of the contract value.