APTEL Awards Compensation For Solar Power Injected Into Grid During Wrongful Denial Of Open Access

The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (“APTEL”), by its judgment dated 19.01.2026, in the matter of M/S JK Minerals v. Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission & Ors.¹, held that JK Minerals is entitled to compensation for electricity injected into the grid during the intervening period from 15.09.2017 to 10.05.2018, on account of the refusal of Long-Term Open Access (“LTOA”), and has directed payment of compensation at average power purchase costs (“APPC”) rates along with carrying cost.

JK Minerals approached the Madhya Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (“MPERC”) seeking LTOA for supply of power to a third-party consumer, which was initially denied by the distribution licensee on grounds of network congestion, despite the generator and consumer undertaking to restrict drawal within existing contract demand. During this period, JK Minerals commissioned its solar plant and injected power into the grid pending grant of LTOA, pursuant to a utility