Outstanding renewable-energy dues must be adjusted against consumption charges before disconnection.

The petitioner, M/s. Aadhini Renewables, sought a mandamus preventing the respondents from collecting current-consumption charges, demand charges, or arrears from its group-captive consumer, M/s. Yazhini Yarn Mills, until the respondents paid or adjusted ₹59,623 allegedly due to the petitioner for 2025–2026.

At the hearing, counsel for both sides agreed that the matter was covered by the High Court’s earlier order in W.P. No. 38309 of 2024 and could be disposed of on the same terms.

Whether the respondents should adjust the amount due to the petitioner against current-consumption and demand charges payable by its group-captive consumer.

Whether the respondents should be restrained from taking coercive steps, including disconnection of electricity supply, until the amount due is adjusted.

The Court applied the directions in M/s. Rajaguru Spinning Mills P. Ltd. v. Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, W.P. Nos. 6776 of 2020 etc., batch, dated 28 October 2021, as previously followed in W.P. No. 31140 of 2024 and batch cases.

Those directions provide that an outstanding amount payable by the electricity utility may be adjusted against current-consumption or open-access charges, with adjustment continuing until the amount is exhausted; the utility must not take coercive steps to disconnect supply while that adjustment remains incomplete.

The present order was made under the Court’s writ jurisdiction under Article 226.

The Court noted that both sides accepted that the petitioner’s claim was covered by the earlier decision in W.P. No. 38309 of 2024.

Following the same precedent and without separately examining the underlying claim, it disposed of the petition on the same terms as that earlier order, which directed adjustment of amounts due against electricity charges and prohibited coercive disconnection until adjustment was complete.

Accordingly, the respondents were to adjust the amount due to the petitioner against the relevant electricity charges, and were not to take coercive steps to disconnect supply until the amount was adjusted.

No costs were awarded, and the connected miscellaneous petition was closed.