Govt steps in to resolve NTPC-discoms feud over dues
Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain will meet the chairman of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) on Saturday to resolve the dispute between BSES discoms and the corporation.
Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain will meet the chairman of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) on Saturday to resolve the dispute between BSES discoms and the corporation.
The NTPC on Wednesday threatened to suspend supply of electricity to the two BSES discoms - - BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd -- in Delhi if they fail to pay Rs 1,300 crore dues by May 10.
The discoms could face 2,027 MW reduction in power from May 9. When compared to the peak demand of 4,600 MW, this means an over 40% reduction in electricity.
A senior official of the power department said on Friday that the state government and the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission officials were in touch with the NTPC over the issue.
“The power minister will meet the NTPC chairman. We are hopeful of finding a solution,” the official said.
The State Load Despatch Centre under Delhi Transco Limited has also written a letter, a copy of which is with HT, to the NTPC asking it to withdraw the notice to the discoms.
“The NTPC meets nearly 65% power requirement of the BRPL. If the NTPC regulates the power, the balance 35% will still be scheduled for Delhi from central and state generators. The load will remain constant, but supply will be limited, which will lead to imbalance in the grid… It will affect the power supply of TPDDL, NDMC and MES,” the letter states.
The grid collapse will result in the disruption of power supply to strategic installation and institutions of national importance.
The NTPC moved the Supreme Court in March, seeking its intervention to recover the dues from BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna. It argued the discoms had not paid the corporation since November 2015. With mounting dues, the NTPC argued it had become difficult for them to pay fuel suppliers. The matter is still pending in the Supreme Court.
In its notices served to both the discoms, the NTPC said BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna owe the corporation Rs 892.30 crore and Rs 409.93 crore, respectively. The NTPC says this payment was due for supplying 2,027 MW of electricity to the discoms.
On Thursday, however, the discoms wrote to the power generator asking it to withdraw the notices.
The letter, written by BSES director Gopal K Saxena, stated that “100% regulation of power is unjustified and unwarranted” and, will cause “extreme hardship to the residents of Delhi besides disturbing the law and order ”.
The two BSES companies distribute power to 70% of the capital in east, west, south and central Delhi.