Daily Summary · October 15, 2026 · Announcement
Opposition Attacks Government Over Short-Term Power Purchase at About Rs 35 a Unit
The DMK and AIADMK have criticised the state's short-term electricity purchase for October 12 to 31, while Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar has defended it as a response to peak demand.
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The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation has bought short-term power from private suppliers for the period October 12 to 31, according to media reports. Round-the-clock supply was reportedly priced at roughly Rs 32 to Rs 34.5 a unit, and evening peak-hour supply at roughly Rs 33 to Rs 37 a unit. Reports differ on the total quantity contracted.
Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar defended the purchase, citing high peak demand. He said the state would draw only a portion of the costlier supply, mainly during evening peak hours when solar generation falls, to avoid outages, according to The Week and Deccan Chronicle.
Former electricity minister and DMK leader V. Senthil Balaji said the rate was far higher than the roughly Rs 20 a unit paid under the previous government and alleged corruption, as reported by The News Minute and DT Next.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami also accused the government of orchestrating a power procurement scam, and compared the price with lower rates he said Andhra Pradesh had paid, according to DT Next. These are the opposition leaders' claims, and the minister has defended the purchase.