Outstanding power-generation dues must be adjusted against consumption charges, with disconnection barred until adjustment is complete.

The petitioners were wind-energy generators claiming unpaid amounts for electricity supplied to the respondents: ₹7,84,983 for Lakshmivel Mills, ₹3,15,726 for Kumaraguru Hitec Rice Industries, and ₹25,86,904 for Shalivahana Wind Energy.

They sought to restrain collection of current-consumption and demand charges, and arrears, until those amounts were paid or adjusted against their electricity charges; in Shalivahana’s case, the requested adjustment related to its group captive consumer.

At the hearing, counsel for both sides agreed regarding the admitted liability.

The Court referred to its earlier orders addressing comparable claims and disposed of these petitions on the same terms as its order dated 9 April 2025 in W.P. No. 13099 of 2025 and connected cases.

A subsequent order corrected the number of one connected miscellaneous petition from W.M.P. No. 31915 of 2026 to W.M.P. No. 35110 of 2026.

1. Whether the respondents should adjust the admitted amounts payable to the petitioners for electricity supplied against the petitioners’ current-consumption and demand charges until the amounts are exhausted.

2. Whether the respondents should be restrained from taking coercive steps, including disconnection of electricity supply, while the admitted amounts remain unadjusted.

The petitions were brought under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking mandamus.

The Court applied the approach adopted in M/s. Rajaguru Spinning Mills P. Ltd. v. Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, W.P. Nos. 6776 of 2020 and connected cases, order dated 28 October 2021: where amounts due to generators remain outstanding, adjustment may continue against current-consumption or open-access charges until the full amount is adjusted, and electricity supply should not be disconnected in the meantime.

The Court also relied on its order dated 9 April 2025 in W.P. No. 13099 of 2025 and connected cases, which had adopted comparable directions.

The Court noted that the parties agreed on the admitted liability and that the claims fell within the approach taken in earlier cases concerning unpaid amounts for electricity supplied.

Relying on its prior orders rather than undertaking a separate examination of the individual claims, it directed that these petitions be disposed of on the same terms as the 9 April 2025 order.

The underlying terms, reproduced from an earlier order, provide for adjustment against the relevant electricity charges and prohibit coercive disconnection until the outstanding amounts are fully adjusted.

The subsequent correction directed that W.M.P. No. 35110 of 2026, not W.M.P. No. 31915 of 2026, be reflected in the order.