PANAJI
As Goa’s power distribution system falls short on demand-side response, particularly in the implementation of Time-of-Day (ToD) tariffs, the Ministry of Power has recommended the State to improve ToD tariff implementation and installation of ToD meters for eligible consumers on priority. The suggestion comes at a time, when the State has already decided not to go for ToD implementation for domestic consumers for next three years.
The findings and recommendation are part of the ‘Distribution Utilities Ranking (DUR) Report for FY 2024-25’, released by the Ministry of Power, which identified Demand-Side Response (DSR) as Goa’s weakest-performing parameter. The State scored just 19 out of 100 on DSR.
As per Ministry’s data, the State scored 11.4 out of 30 for ToD tariff applicability, 3.8 out of 10 for peak-period tariff and 3.8 out of 10 for solar/off-peak-period tariff. Its score for the availability of ToD tariffs as per Ministry of Power rules stood at 19 out of 50. Significantly, Goa received zero marks for the percentage of consumers to whom ToD tariffs were applicable. The report has specifically recommended that Goa improve ToD tariff implementation and install ToD meters for consumer categories, excluding agriculture.
ToD tariffs, aimed at encouraging consumers to shift electricity consumption from peak to off-peak hours and thereby help utilities manage peak demand and flatten load curves, were introduced in Goa from October 2025. However, following public backlash, the State restricted the system to industrial consumers from October, last year and has already decided not to implement ToD tariffs for domestic consumers for the next three years. Under the tariff structure that came into force on October 1, 2025, low-tension consumers who install smart meters and opt for ToD tariffs are charged 80% of the normal tariff between 9 am and 5 pm, compared to the normal 100%. During peak hours, from 5 pm to 1 am, the tariff is 120% of the normal rate, against the earlier 130%, while consumption between 1 am and 9 am is charged at the normal rate of 100%, compared to the earlier 120%. Despite its poor performance on demand-side response, Goa performed strongly on several other parameters. It secured 100 marks each in Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) achievement and Communicable System Metering, while scoring 84.8 in Annual Integrated Rating, 76.1 in Consumer Service Rating and 75.2 in Resource Adequacy. Its overall combined score stood at 78.5.
The DUR framework assesses distribution utilities across six parameters -- financial and operational performance, consumer service, RPO achievement, communicable system metering, demand-side response and resource adequacy -- to provide a comparative assessment of the performance of the power distribution sector.
