Nagpur: In a major development for Nagpur’s power distribution landscape, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has approved Torrent Power’s entry into the city as a parallel electricity distributor. This move allows Torrent Power to operate alongside the existing Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), creating a competitive environment aimed at improving service quality, tariff efficiency, and infrastructure investment.
Torrent Power had submitted its application to MERC in November 2023, seeking a distribution licence to supply electricity within Nagpur Municipal Corporation limits and adjoining areas. The approval, granted in recent weeks, clears the way for the company to begin building its own power infrastructure—such as substations, underground cables, and distribution poles—within the city. This dual-operator model is expected to offer consumers a choice between providers, similar to existing setups in cities like Mumbai.
An e-public hearing regarding Torrent Power’s entry is scheduled for July 22, 2025. MERC has invited citizens, stakeholders, and civil society groups to submit their suggestions, objections, or concerns before the hearing. This public consultation is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the regulatory conditions under which Torrent Power will operate. Consumers and organizations can file their inputs directly on the MERC website.
Torrent Power is no stranger to large-scale urban distribution. The company already supplies power in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhiwandi, Thane, Agra, and parts of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu. Its Bhiwandi franchise model has been especially lauded for drastically reducing technical and commercial losses, indicating a track record of operational efficiency. With its entry into Nagpur, similar improvements in billing transparency, outage management, and customer support are expected—particularly in areas that have long experienced power cuts or service delays.
However, experts and think tanks have raised certain concerns. The parallel distribution model, while consumer-friendly, has the potential downside of asset duplication. There are apprehensions that Torrent Power may initially focus only on high-density commercial or industrial areas, commonly referred to as “cherry-picking,” which could leave residential or low-revenue regions underserved. Additionally, maintaining two sets of infrastructure—one by MSEDCL and another by Torrent Power—could lead to inefficiencies unless managed under stringent regulatory oversight.
Despite these concerns, Torrent Power’s entry into Nagpur is being seen as a transformative step that could lead to improved consumer experiences and faster resolution of complaints. For citizens of Nagpur, the upcoming public hearing is a critical opportunity to voice their expectations, demand service guarantees, and ensure that the benefits of competition truly reach every corner of the city.
