Delhi to face power tariff hike next month
23 Jun 2014 5:29 AM IST
Delhi is most likely to be administered the second bitter pill before the budget as Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has clearly indicated an upward revision of the rates on the name of ‘fuel adjustment cost’. According to sources, the power regulator is planning to oblige the power distributing companies (discoms) by increasing the power rates by 15-20 per cent which would come into force by July.
‘There will be no relief from power tariff and the details will be shared in future,’ said Jayashree Raghuraman, secretary of DERC. The chairman of the power regulator P D Sudhakar also echoed his view of an upward revision in electricity bills but did not disclose whether it would hike the tariff, additional surcharge or quarterly charge as demanded by discoms. The three discoms have demanded hike in electricity charges claiming that they were facing 20-30 percent loss due to hike in electricity charges purchased from public sector power generating companies particularly due to increase in fuel cost. The move of DERC is despite the fact that in the two-day public hearing on the issue organised by DERC, visitors from various walks of life, domestic consumers and representatives of RWAs, commercial and industrial sectors, demanded the regulator to freeze power charges till completion of the ongoing CAG audit. ‘There is enough confusion among the public as Aam Admi Party government had alleged fudging of account by companies. Why is DERC going ahead to increase electricity bill when CAG audit is still pending,’ said Saurabha Gandhi, general secretary of United Residents of Delhi.
As the present government has not given any indication to provide subsidy to power consumers which ended in March, the power woes of Delhiites could become worse in coming days. Currently, power consumers in the city are paying the full price of electricity which is charged at Rs 3.90 per unit up to 200 units, and Rs 5.80 per unit for more than 200 units. There are 34.61 lakh power consumers in the city who are supplied power by BYPL, BRPL and TPDDL.
Reacting on the development the Aam Admi Party said, ‘DERC’s decision to hold public hearings seeking tariff hike is highly questionable and ill timed. The impartiality of DERC is under severe doubt given its track record and the current move to publicly discuss the unreasonable demands of the discoms at a time when their dismal performance required a review of whether their licences need to be cancelled,’. The party demanded DERC to hold the process till CAG completes it’s audit.
‘There will be no relief from power tariff and the details will be shared in future,’ said Jayashree Raghuraman, secretary of DERC. The chairman of the power regulator P D Sudhakar also echoed his view of an upward revision in electricity bills but did not disclose whether it would hike the tariff, additional surcharge or quarterly charge as demanded by discoms. The three discoms have demanded hike in electricity charges claiming that they were facing 20-30 percent loss due to hike in electricity charges purchased from public sector power generating companies particularly due to increase in fuel cost. The move of DERC is despite the fact that in the two-day public hearing on the issue organised by DERC, visitors from various walks of life, domestic consumers and representatives of RWAs, commercial and industrial sectors, demanded the regulator to freeze power charges till completion of the ongoing CAG audit. ‘There is enough confusion among the public as Aam Admi Party government had alleged fudging of account by companies. Why is DERC going ahead to increase electricity bill when CAG audit is still pending,’ said Saurabha Gandhi, general secretary of United Residents of Delhi.
As the present government has not given any indication to provide subsidy to power consumers which ended in March, the power woes of Delhiites could become worse in coming days. Currently, power consumers in the city are paying the full price of electricity which is charged at Rs 3.90 per unit up to 200 units, and Rs 5.80 per unit for more than 200 units. There are 34.61 lakh power consumers in the city who are supplied power by BYPL, BRPL and TPDDL.
Reacting on the development the Aam Admi Party said, ‘DERC’s decision to hold public hearings seeking tariff hike is highly questionable and ill timed. The impartiality of DERC is under severe doubt given its track record and the current move to publicly discuss the unreasonable demands of the discoms at a time when their dismal performance required a review of whether their licences need to be cancelled,’. The party demanded DERC to hold the process till CAG completes it’s audit.
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