The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has given the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) permission to introduce power derivatives, a regulatory filing on the BSE states.  

These contracts, which are based on the price of electricity, will help distribution firms, power producers, and major consumers better manage risks and protect themselves from price fluctuations.

A long-running jurisdictional dispute over the regulation of electricity derivatives has been resolved with the debut.  

Since the times of the now-defunct Forward Markets Commission (FMC), which amalgamated with Sebi in 2015, the issue has persisted.

Currently, Sebi is the only regulatory body with jurisdiction over power futures that are cash-settled.  

Sebi and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) will share regulatory control if the contracts are mandatory deliverable.  

“These [electricity] contracts will offer participants a reliable, transparent, and regulated platform to manage power price risks, which are becoming more dynamic due to renewables and market-based reforms,” says Praveena Rai, managing director and chief executive of MCX.

Rai went on to say that electricity derivatives might be a crucial link between the financial and physical sectors given India's increased emphasis on renewable energy and open access power markets.  

 

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Additionally, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced that during its May results call, stating that Sebi had given it in-principle clearance to introduce electricity derivatives.

In terms of value for FY25, MCX presently holds almost 98 percent of the commodity futures trading market.