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In a bid to revolutionize electricity trading in India, the National Electricity Regulatory Authority is unveiling proposed regulations that will allow the Grid Controller of India Ltd to implement market coupling. This strategic initiative aims to standardize pricing across various electricity markets, enhancing transparency and efficiency. View More

New Delhi: India's power regulator has issued the draft Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Second Amendment Regulations, 2026, proposing market coupling norms be implemented and procedures be made by a single operator Grid Controller of India Ltd ( Grid India ). "Grid India shall function as market coupling operator and shall be responsible for operation and management of market coupling. For this, Grid India shall form a separate cell for discharging the functions," the amendment by the regulator said. It also said that Grid India will formulate the ' power market coupling procedure' to implement within six months of the notification of the amendments. Comments from stakeholders on the draft amendment have been sought by May 16. The move is aimed at the larger idea of reshaping electricity trading through market coupling, ensuring a uniform price in different electricity markets. Regulator aims to ensure uniform powerpricing across markets Live Events The draft norms come as the first step after the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) in February dismissed a plea by Indian Energy Exchange Ltd challenging the regulator's suo moto July order to implement market coupling, stating the petition was not maintainable at that juncture as the rules on coupling were not framed. IEX currently has the largest market share among three exchanges in India, which may be impacted because of the changes proposed by the regulator, industry experts said. The company's shares fell on the news and ended 7.8% lower from the previous close at ₹125.05 on BSE. In a reply to the stock exchanges, IEX said, "This is a regulatory consultative exercise initiated by the regulator, and not the outcome of any negotiations, arrangements, or events." As per the draft amendments, expanded scope applies to the day-ahead market (DAM) and real-time market (RTM), which means a gradual rollout across other segments Market coupling was first introduced formally through the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (Power Market) Regulations, 2021. Thereafter, an official staff paper detailing the mechanism was released on August 21, 2023. However, the main discussion came after the regulator's order in July to start market coupling in a phased manner in the day-ahead market from January 2026, and in the real-time market after gaining operational experience. Apart from IEX, India has two other power exchanges: Power Exchange India and Hindustan Power Exchange. Industry experts said a uniform price discovery mechanism may reduce the competitive advantages of the leading exchange. IEX had in its petition to APTEL argued that redistribution of market share would be the only outcome of market coupling. As per its petition, the commission's order to implement market coupling upended the regulatory framework of the multi-exchange model that had evolved over 17 years, without considering its impact and in the absence of any evidence of its benefits. .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Delhi's electricity bills are set to increase. The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity has ordered the Delhi power regulator to start recovering over Rs 38,500 crore owed by electricity distribution companies. This move comes after the tribunal rejected a request for a CAG audit, directing an independent chartered accountant instead. The process must begin within three weeks, impacting city residents. View More

New Delhi: Electricity is likely to become costlier in the national capital with the APTEL on Monday directing Delhi's power regulator DERC to commence the process of liquidating a whopping Rs 38,500 crore of dues of discoms within three weeks. The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) in its order also rejected Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) application for an audit of power discoms by CAG, and instead directed it to complete the exercise within three months by engaging an independent chartered accountant. Also Read: April peak power demand higher than last year as temperature soars No immediate comment from the Delhi government was available on the development that will cause a huge financial burden on the city residents. However, in the past it had hinted that the Centre's help could be sought to resolve the issue. Pending dues of discoms have collected over the years in the form regulatory assets (RAs) due to a lack of any power tariff hike in Delhi. Live Events The DERC informed the central agency, APTEL, in January that total regulatory assets in Delhi stand at Rs 38,552 crore. RAs refer to deferred expenses borne by the discoms out of changes in fuel costs, repairs and such other activities, which are realised in future. RAs of discoms are realised from consumers in the form of a surcharge that is part of their monthly electricity bill. APTEL in its order said the DERC's request for extension of time till July 2, 2026, for commencement of liquidation of regulatory assets is totally "unreasonable and unacceptable", and rejected it. "We direct the Commission to commence the process of liquidation of regulatory assets as per the judgement of the Supreme Court, within three weeks from today (Monday) positively," said the order. APTEL held that there was no legal impediment to begin the process and criticised the delay, noting that it would ultimately burden consumers. The tribunal also blocked the move of DERC for an audit of discoms through the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and observed that while the Supreme Court, in its judgment dated August 6, 2025, had directed regulatory commissions to undertake a "strict and intensive audit" of discoms, it did not specify that such audit must be carried out by the CAG. Also Read: Need innovative solutions to finance nuclear projects: Official It also noted that discoms were not given an opportunity to present their case before the audit decision was taken. The tribunal, however, directed DERC to proceed with the audit by appointing an independent CA within one week from the date of the order and to complete the exercise within three months, in line with the Supreme Court's directions. According to the DERC filing before the APTEL, the outstanding amount includes Rs 19,174 crore for BRPL, Rs 12,333 crore for BYPL, and Rs 7,046 crore for TPDDL. The amounts are approved expenditures incurred by discoms for supplying electricity. .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

The decline followed the release of a draft proposal by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission on electricity price discovery, which introduces market coupling norms that could significantly alter the dynamics of power exchanges in India View More

Financial advisor Roger Ma discovered his wife's employer match sitting in her account two months after she'd left her job. View More

Had Roger Ma not happened to check an old account, he may never have noticed that he and his wife were missing cash that was rightfully theirs. In March, a couple of months after his wife left her job at Amazon, Ma, a certified financial planner in Washington, D.C., says he randomly logged into her old workplace 401(k) account. They'd rolled the account over to an individual retirement account in February, and yet, there was a pile of money sitting in it. It turned out, her employer's matching contribution had hit two months after her last day. They aren't the first family to (almost) leave money behind when leaving a job. As of July 2025, there were 31.9 million left-behind or forgotten 401(k) accounts, worth approximately $2.1 trillion, according to retirement account rollover firm Capitalize. If you've recently left a job — either voluntarily or as the result of a layoff — your workplace retirement account is just one of the things worth double-checking, Ma wrote in a recent LinkedIn post: "Otherwise, you may end up leaving money behind without realizing it."Here are three potential hiding places for your money that are worth discussing with HR before you leave. 1. Roll over your old workplace plan If you leave your job and take no action on your workplace retirement account, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), one of three things can happen. If you have more than $7,000 in the account, your funds will generally stay in your old employer's plan (some plans may still operate under the previous $5,000 threshold). That may be something you want if, for instance, your plan came with good, low-fee investment options, experts say. But it can also lead to a scenario where a chunk of your money becomes out-of-sight, out-of-mind, says Ma. If you have less than $7,000 in the account, your company has the option to roll the funds into an IRA in your name, which could similarly get lost in the wash, Ma says. And if you have less than $1,000 invested, your firm could cut you a check for the amount, which, if not reinvested into a similar retirement account within 60 days, is considered taxable income and could be subject to early withdrawal penalties. Generally, Ma says, your best move is to be proactive by rolling any workplace funds into an IRA at your preferred brokerage, so you don't forget about them. "The sooner that you can do it after leaving the job, the better, because there's going to be some indifference, or life just happens, and you're just not gonna do it," he says. 2. Double-check on your employer match You may not be the only one putting money in your workplace plan. Many employers offer to match an employee's contributions up to a percentage of their salary. But the money doesn't start coming in from Day One. Instead, these funds generally come with a vesting schedule, which means if you leave the firm before a certain amount of time, you may have to forfeit some or all of the money the employer put in. "With the 401(k) match, the thing to know [if you're leaving your job] is the vesting schedule and whether you're fully or partially vested," Ma says.Under the Internal Revenue Code, companies can generally offer one of two models:1. Three-year cliff: Employees receive 100% of the company match once they've worked at the firm for three years. Leave the firm before that and you'll get 0% of what your company contributed.2. Six-year graded: You get 100% of your match after six years of service. Until then, vesting is partial. You may get 0% after one year, 20% after two, 40% after three and so on.When leaving, Ma suggests discussing your vesting schedule with your HR representative, along with the timing of matching contributions. While some companies may contribute with every paycheck, others may operate on a more intermittent basis, and may contribute your match after you've left your position, he says. If you discover that your firm made, or plans to make, a contribution after your departure, make plans to roll the money into an IRA, Ma says. 3. Use up money in your flexible spending account Depending on your employer and the kind of insurance you have, you may have access to a flexible spending account, which generally allows you to divert money into an account you can use to pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental and vision expenses for you and your dependents. Contributions are exempt from federal income tax.You typically decide on your annual contribution during the previous year's open enrollment, and even though you put money toward the account with each paycheck, your entire election is yours to spend on Jan. 1. That means, should you spend the entire balance before you depart, in short, "you win as an employee," says Sara Taylor, senior director of employee spending accounts at Willis Towers Watson. "You can use the full annual amount, regardless of if you're terminated or don't make contributions equal to that amount."Even if you're laid off, you may have time to spend the money in your account, Taylor says. Some employers will allow you to incur FSA-eligible expenses until your last day of employment, while others may give you until the end of the month. The same rules don't apply to dependent care FSAs, however, which cover expenses for children under 13 or elderly dependents. These are funded incrementally through payroll contributions, meaning you can't spend what you haven't put in, says Taylor. Some employers will allow you to incur expenses up to your final day, while others may let you go to the end of the calendar year. For either type of account, funds generally follow "use-it-or-lose it" rules. Any money you haven't spent in the account by your company's deadline reverts to the firm. Want to lead with confidence and bring out the best in your team? Take CNBC's new online course, How To Be A Standout Leader. Expert instructors share practical strategies to help you build trust, communicate clearly and motivate other people to do their best work. Sign up today! Take control of your money with CNBC Select CNBC Select is editorially independent and may earn a commission from affiliate partners on links.Nearly half of Americans feel homeownership is impossibleAmazon Prime is offering a 20-cent-per-gallon discount. Stack those savings with a credit cardHow to use credit cards to access presale and VIP tickets Travel insurance is gaining popularity among spring breakers this year — how to protect your tripWhat is a good monthly retirement income in 2026? VIDEO7:2707:2726-year-old works at a bookstore and lives on $53,000 a year in New York CityMillennial Money

On April 20, the Indian stock market remained stable, with Nifty 50 and Sensex closing flat. Broader indices fell. Geopolitical tensions rose as the US seized an Iranian cargo ship, leading to a potential Iranian retaliation and increased oil prices. View More

China is the undisputed global leader in solar energy, making more than 80% of the world's solar panel components. View More

Workers check solar panels installed on a lake in Tianchang, east China's Anhui province on January 12, 2026.- | Afp | Getty Images China has called for "concerted efforts" to ease its solar power industry's severe overcapacity crisis, as part of Beijing's campaign to end a fierce price war.The proposed measures include capacity control, standard guidance, price enforcement, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property protection "to promote the high-quality development of the photovoltaic industry."China's solar manufacturing capacity far outstrips global demand, triggering a domestic price war in recent years.The country makes more than 80% of the world's solar panel components, per the International Energy Agency, but its industry has been battling with an overcapacity problem because of intense domestic competition, which the Chinese government has called "involution."The push comes shortly after a meeting on Friday between agencies, including China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission, as well as the China Photovoltaic Industry Association and major state-owned power generators that buy solar, such as China Huaneng Group and China Datang Corp."The meeting required strengthened inter-departmental coordination and concerted efforts to continuously deepen the governance of the photovoltaic industry, and to fully promote comprehensive governance related to 'anti-involution,'" China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement on Monday, per a Google translation. Read more‘Asia’s Ukraine moment’: How the Iran war could accelerate a shift into renewablesChina's Xi urges faster development of new energy system as Middle East war continuesWhy a reported Elon Musk-linked visit lit up China’s oversupplied solar sector China's solar overcapacity issue has been further compounded by a sense of growing resistance from high-value overseas markets, with the U.S. aggressively imposing tariffs on solar products from China and the European Union diversifying its solar supply chain away from Beijing.In response, China's government has launched an "anti-involution" campaign, seeking to slash production capacity and put an end to disorderly pricing schemes.Analysts have told CNBC that the fallout from the U.S. and Israel-led Iran war is likely to expedite a shift away from fossil fuels and make countries think differently about the role renewables can play in shoring up energy security, potentially delivering a boost to demand for solar. Chinese solar manufacturers told Reuters last week, however, that any expected boost to global renewables demand due to the Iran war energy price shock was unlikely to ease the industry's overcapacity challenge. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

India's T&D sector is poised for sustained growth, driven by an estimated INR 9 trillion capex through 2032. Despite temporary ordering slowdowns due to high capacity utilization and longer lead times for high-voltage transformers, a positive outlook remains. Global demand surges, particularly in the US and Europe, present significant export opportunities for Indian manufacturers. View More

India's transmission and distribution sector is set for a sustained growth cycle, backed by an estimated capital expenditure of around INR 9 trillion through 2032, even as ordering activity remained weak in FY26 due to temporary constraints, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services . The report said "the transmission and distribution (T&D) value chain... continues to benefit from a robust capex outlay of INR9t until 2032," adding that the T&D capex cycle, which began in FY22-23, has already driven "sharp growth in order books, revenue, and the margin profiles for industry participants." Highlighting the near-term slowdown, the report noted that "sector-level ordering was weaker in FY26 (16 schemes awarded) versus FY25 (45 schemes awarded), primarily due to temporary bandwidth constraints rather than any structural demand slowdown." It added that domestic manufacturers are currently operating at high capacity utilisation and are increasingly focusing on higher-voltage transformers, which "involve longer manufacturing cycles and testing timelines," thereby extending lead times. Despite this, the brokerage maintained a positive outlook, stating that "there remains room for the cycle to continue over the next couple of years," supported by capacity expansions and strong demand from both domestic and global markets. Live Events The report further said India's National Electricity Plan outlines an "ambitious investment plan of ~INR9t in transmission," driven by large-scale renewable energy integration , which has already led to a "structural acceleration in orders over the past few years." On demand trends, it noted that "demand continues to remain strong from both domestic and export markets while transformer supply has struggled to keep pace," resulting in longer lead times and a favourable environment for manufacturers. Global opportunities are also opening up, with the report highlighting that transformer demand in the US and Europe is witnessing a "historic surge" due to "renewable energy integration, data center expansion, industrial electrification, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and the urgent need to replace aging infrastructure," creating a "demand-supply mismatch" and increasing reliance on imports and higher transformer prices. This, it said, presents an opportunity for Indian companies, as "domestic manufacturers... are benefiting from India's growing role as a manufacturing base within global OEM feeder factory networks." The report also pointed towards emerging opportunities in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) projects, stating that out of a 32.3 gigawatt (GW) pipeline, "about 14.5 GW has already been tendered and awarded," with expectations of "one to two HVDC awards annually going forward." The report said it expects "transformer players to continue delivering strong earnings growth over FY25-28," although it cautioned that valuations are no longer cheap. However, it added that "possibility of further earning upgrades and unfolding of export opportunities can sustain these valuations," indicating continued investor interest in the space. .Pbanner{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;background-color:#ec1c40;margin-top:20px;padding:5px 10px;border-radius:4px;color:#fff;line-height:10px;} .Pbannertext{display:flex;align-items:center;font-size:16px;font-weight:600;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannertext img{height:20px;margin:0 6px} .Pbannerbutton a{display:flex;align-items:center;background-color:#fff;color:#ec1c40;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;padding:4px 8px;border-radius:6px;font-size:15px;font-family:'Montserrat';} .Pbannerbutton img{height:20px;margin-right:6px} .Pbannerbutton a:hover{background-color:#f7f7f7} Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

IEX share price slumped to the day's low of ?125.35 apiece in intraday deals today, as against its last closing price of ?135.65 after CERC released new draft norms for market coupling. View More

This will be Japan's first ever warship export project, and the first ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029. View More

In this article7011.T-JPFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles (L) and Japan's Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro (R) pose for a photo with Eisaku Ito, Pesident and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, before the signing of the contract for Japan to deliver the first three of Mogami-class warships, in Melbourne on April 18, 2026. Japan agreed on April 18 on a deal to provide Australia's navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of a wider military build up by Canberra aimed at boosting its long-range firepower to deter China. William West | Afp | Getty Images Shares in Japan's largest defense company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries climbed nearly 4% Monday after the country finalized an agreement with Australia for building three general purpose frigates. This will be Japan's first ever warship export project, with the first vessel scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2029. Shares of MHI have gained about 75% in the last 12 months. The 10 billion Australian dollar ($7.15 billion) deal, first announced in August, comes on the back of reports that Japan is preparing to loosen its restrictions on arms shipments later this month, paving the way for the official export of lethal weapons. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon Canberra, meanwhile, has committed as much as AU$20 billion toward a fleet of 11 general purpose frigates. The first three will be built by MHI.The new warships, based on the upgraded Mogami-class frigate, will replace the current ANZAC-class in the Australian Navy, which have been in service since the 1980s. Japan's MHI beat German rival ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to bag the deal. Japan said Australia could receive the first of the upgraded warships ahead of its own navy, tipping the AU$10 billion contest in MHI's favor, according to Australian news outlet ABC.Nikkei reported that other companies involved in the deal include NEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric and Hitachi, which will provide radar, antenna and other systems for the ships. Shares of Mitsubishi Electric were up last 3.64%, while Hitachi saw a smaller gain of 0.8%. NEC shares slipped 0.6%. Stock Chart IconStock chart icon In its National Defence Strategy released on April 16, Canberra identified that China's "growing national power and increasingly potent military capabilities" will be the main factor in security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. The report added that Beijing will continue to prosecute its maritime and territorial claims in the South and East China Sea, using the People's Liberation Army and China Coast Guard. "PLA intercepts of foreign military vessels and aircraft operating under international law in international waters and airspace are becoming more frequent and, at times, are unsafe and unprofessional." Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

Shares of power and energy companies may see action amid fresh triggers, including restructuring, diversification and deals, placing BHEL, Adani Power, Gujarat Gas, BPCL, MCX and Dredging Corp firmly on traders’ radar this week View More