MSEDCL’s TOD Billing Move Sparks Concern Among Solar-Powered Industrial and Commercial Consumers

Industrial and commercial solar power consumers in Maharashtra have raised concerns after Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) introduced Time of Day (TOD) billing for users generating more than 10 kilowatt solar energy. The move is expected to increase electricity costs for several businesses that had invested heavily in rooftop solar systems to reduce their dependence on grid power.

Pune, April 3 | The TOD billing mechanism divides electricity usage into three time slots off-peak, peak and normal hours limiting the flexibility of consumers to use surplus solar power generated during the day at night. This means that businesses generating extra solar power in daytime may not be able to fully utilise it during evening peak hours, forcing them to purchase comparatively expensive electricity from MSEDCL.

MSEDCL’s new billing structure, applicable to non-residential and non-agricultural consumers with solar generation capacity above 10 kW, has been made effective from July 1, 2025. However, customers are likely to face additional burden as the billing has been implemented with retrospective effect, which could result in difference bills for the past several months.

Alongside TOD billing, the introduction of a Grid Support Charge has further intensified concerns. Under the revised tariff structure approved by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), high-tension industrial and commercial consumers will be charged ₹1.42 per unit on total solar energy generated, not just on banked energy. Earlier banking charges have been removed, but industry representatives argue that the new charge will raise operational costs.

Stakeholders have also questioned the implementation process, citing previous court interventions on tariff revision matters. Industry bodies and consumer associations claim that these changes could discourage solar adoption at a time when businesses are shifting towards renewable energy to manage rising power costs. With Maharashtra already having among the highest industrial electricity tariffs in the country, entrepreneurs fear the new rules could undermine financial planning and loan repayments taken for solar installations.

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