With electricity regulator CERC notifying new tariff regulations, changes are on the anvil in the way incentives and tax liabilities get calculated for central power generation and transmission firms
The new norms will be in force for five years - from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019. They are not applicable to generating stations or inter-state transmission systems where tariffs has been discovered through competitive bidding. As per the new norms, notified by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) on February 21, there are key changes with regard to tax and calculation of incentives for thermal power plants.
The changes would be negative for country's largest power producer NTPC and state-run transmission utility Power Grid, among others. NTPC stock fell 11.43 per cent to close at 117.05 on the BSE, while Power Grid was down 0.40 per cent at Rs 94.75. "NTPC would be worst hit due to across-the-board cut in its incentives... Grossing up of tax on actual tax paid v/s applicable tax rate to hit NTPC," global brokerage firm Bank of America Merrill lynch said in a report on Monday.