MERC Disposes Solar Curtailment Petition After Withdrawal, Keeps Future Legal Options Open

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has officially closed a petition filed by Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited after the company decided to withdraw its claims related to its 120 MW Akkalkot Solar project. The case, originally filed in July 2025, involved a dispute over the “must-run” status granted to renewable energy projects.

In its petition, TPREL alleged that the Maharashtra State Load Despatch Centre and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd had issued improper backing down instructions, leading to curtailment of solar power generation. The company argued that as a solar project, its plant should be treated as a “must-run” facility, meaning its generation should not be reduced except in situations involving grid safety or technical emergencies. TPREL also sought compensation of ₹4.45 crore along with interest for the financial losses it claimed to have suffered due to the curtailment.

MSETCL, however, defended its actions by stating that maintaining grid security is the top priority. It explained that occasional curtailment of even must-run plants becomes necessary to manage technical constraints. According to the transmission company, the measures taken were minimal and aimed at preventing the activation of a Special Protection Scheme (SPS). It added that if the SPS had been triggered during peak solar generation, the impact could have been much higher, potentially affecting around 57.5 MW of power from the project.

The case took a different turn on January 15, 2026, when TPREL filed an application requesting to withdraw its petition. The company stated that it had reconsidered its position and decided not to continue the case at that time. It also pointed out that since no detailed hearings had been conducted, withdrawing the petition would not harm the respondents or other stakeholders.

During an e-hearing held on February 27, 2026, TPREL repeated its request for withdrawal, and the respondents did not raise any objections. Following this, the Commission, led by Chairperson Valsa Nair Singh, along with members Anand M. Limaye and Surendra J. Biyani, issued its final order on April 2, 2026, allowing the withdrawal of the petition.

The Commission clarified that the withdrawal is granted “without prejudice,” which means TPREL is free to explore other legal options in the future if needed. With this, the matter stands closed for now.