The government has invoked special powers under the Electricity Act and directed the central and state regulators to implement a long-pending reform to allow industrial consumers to buy cheaper power from the open market. The move will help 15,000 large consumers particularly the sick textile, cement and steel industrial units in states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu by ensuring regular supply of electricity at competitive rates and boost business of power bourses and 52 power traders including NTPC, PTC India, Tata Power, Reliance Infrastructure, Jindal Steel, Essar Power, JSW Energy, GMR Energy and Indiabulls.