The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has issued Tender Specification No. T-01/2026 to appoint a professional consulting firm for the scrutiny, technical evaluation, and disposal of multiple tariff petitions filed by independent power generating companies in the state. The selected consultant will support the Commission in examining petitions related to the determination and truing-up of the Energy Charge Rate (ECR), which represents the variable cost of electricity supplied to the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL).
The appointment comes as the Commission is currently handling 20 pending tariff petitions submitted by several independent power producers. Under the prevailing state regulatory framework, generating companies are required to supply five percent of their net generated electricity to CSPDCL at variable cost. The pending petitions cover different financial years from FY 2013-14 to FY 2026-27 and include both historical truing-up cases and current tariff determinations.
The petitions have been filed by leading power producers, including Maruti Clean Coal and Power Limited, TRN Energy Private Limited, ACB India Limited, Sai Lilagar Power Generation Limited, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited, Adani Power Limited for its Raipur and Raigarh Thermal Power Plants, Korba Power Limited, D.B. Power Limited, and JSW Mahanadi Power Company Limited. Several of these cases are related to coal washery reject-based thermal power plants, requiring detailed technical and financial assessment.
CSERC has prescribed stringent eligibility conditions to ensure that only experienced consultancy firms participate in the bidding process. Interested firms must have successfully completed at least three similar assignments during the past five years involving electricity generation tariff filings or regulatory consultancy for electricity commissions. In addition, bidders must maintain a regular technical workforce of at least ten consultants and have an average annual turnover of ₹10 crore or more during the last three financial years.
To eliminate any conflict of interest, consultancy firms that are currently working for, or bidding to provide services to, any of the applicant generating companies are not eligible to participate. The Commission has also clarified that consortium bids will not be accepted.
As per the tender schedule, bids must be submitted by August 20, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Technical bids will be opened on the same day at 3:30 PM, while financial bids of technically qualified firms will be opened on August 24, 2026, at 3:30 PM. Bidders are required to submit a non-refundable processing fee of ₹10,000 along with an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹75,000. However, recognized startups registered in Chhattisgarh are exempt from the EMD requirement. The bids will remain valid for 180 days.
The selected consultant will be required to complete all assignments within the statutory timeline of 120 days prescribed under the Electricity Act, 2003. The scope of work includes detailed scrutiny of tariff petitions, identification of data gaps, technical validation, participation in stakeholder consultations and public hearings, preparation of draft tariff orders, and post-order assistance for up to 180 days in the event of review petitions or appeals before higher judicial or regulatory authorities.
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