Since the National Tariff Policy 2016 prescribed the tolerable extents of cross-subsidy among various segments of electricity consumers, the market-distorting system hasn’t seen a smidgen of correction.

New Delhi: Direct tariff electricity subsidies from the state governments have increased 32 per cent since FY 2016, amounting to Rs 1,10,391 crore ($14.96 billion) in FY 2019.

The precarious state of India’s power distribution companies can be seen in the sharp rise in state government subsidies to such companies over the past few years, even as sales and profitability have dipped.

PSUs can't just turn into Public Spending Units that try to buy their way out of this crisis. They must look at the bigger picture, and become Public Sustainability Units.

Data shows that, out of the USD 11.8 trillion from 17 global fiscal stimulus packages, 30% will flow into sectors that have negative impacts on the environment.

Jharkhand's electricity consumers received a total subsidy worth Rs 1,250 crore ($170 million) during April 2018-March 2019 (or financial year 2018-19).

According to latest reports, India's power ministry is considering a proposal that may see the closure of some of the nation's dirtiest coal plants as policymakers seek to address the climate crisis.

Better-off households in Jharkhand receive more than twice the share of government electricity subsidies collected by poor households, as revealed in a survey of over 900 households released today by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP).