Liberalising the external commercial borrowing -ECB norms for power sector, the Centre today said that power companies can now use up to 40 per cent of loans to refinance their rupee debt but the rest 60 per cent must be utilised for investments in new projects. According to the Finance Ministry, earlier, power companies were allowed to use only 25 per cent of the ECB to refinance their domestic rupee-debt loan. The policy decision will increase access to cheaper funds for companies in the power sector. In another decision, the government has also opened the ECB route for capital expenditure on the maintenance and operations of toll systems in the roadways and highways sector provided these are part of the original project. The policy decision will provide an additional source of low-cost capital and encourage greater investment in road construction projects.RBI is expected to issue relevant notifications within seven days giving effect to these decisions.