DISCOMS: STEEPED IN DEBT

To ensure a steady power supply to consumers, India has 32 discoms, most of them stateowned. A majority are burdened in debt because of power doles or free power promised by states, apart from low tariffs for domestic consumers.

Now, faced with increased demand, lower supply from gencos and an inability to purchase power at higher costs, discoms have resorted to power cuts and extensive loadshedding in several states