GERC Orders MGVCL to Grant Open Access to Schaeffler India

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) issued a Daily Order on 12 August 2026 directing Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) to grant Open Access to Schaeffler India Limited, enabling the company to procure electricity from alternative sources rather than exclusively from the distribution licensee. Open Access is a statutory right under the Electricity Act that allows eligible consumers to source power directly from generators or the open market while using MGVCL's transmission and distribution infrastructure. This order enforces the distribution licensee's obligation to facilitate consumer choice in power procurement, a key structural principle in India's electricity sector reforms. Schaeffler India, as an eligible consumer meeting statutory load thresholds, can now negotiate better electricity rates and secure renewable energy supplies aligned with corporate sustainability goals. The ruling strengthens consumer rights under the Electricity Act and reinforces SERC/GERC authority to enforce non-discriminatory access to grid infrastructure. Businesses of similar size and consumption profile should understand that meeting GERC-defined eligibility criteria entitles them to demand open access from their distribution licensee without unreasonable delay or conditions.