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Green power tariff on cards for industrial, commercial consumers in Uttar Pradesh
The proposal for introduction of green power tariff was discussed in detail at the meeting chaired by UPERC chairman RP Singh and attended by senior officials and other people representing different sectors
The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) may introduce green power tariff, initially for industrial and commercial consumers from this year, enabling them to obtain up to 100% of their electricity from renewable sources comparatively at a higher price.
UPERC gave indications in this regard at the State Advisory Committee’s (SAC) meeting called by it here on Monday. The proposal for introduction of green power tariff was discussed in detail at the meeting chaired by commission chairman RP Singh and attended by senior officials and other people representing different sectors.
The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), it was told in the meeting, had received requests from many consumers for adoption of green energy tariff for meeting their full or partial energy demand. Proposing adoption of the green energy tariff, UPPCL analysed the methodology adopted by Maharashtra and computed the green tariff applicability in Uttar Pradesh.
UPPCL, in its proposal, said that the current difference between renewable energy and non-renewable energy tariff is ₹1.77/ kwh.
“Therefore, 50% of the charge, that is 0.89/kwh as green power tariff, will be borne by the consumers opting for meeting their 100% electricity demand through renewable sources,” the proposal said.
Green power tariff will be in addition to the regular tariff to be approved by UPERC.
The renewable power consists of all the electricity coming from sources such as hydro, solar, non-solar and cogeneration.
There was a consensus among SAC members that adoption of green power tariff was a good move to promote renewable energy and create awareness among people in the state.
However, opinion differed on whether the green power tariff be introduced from this year only or the from next year.
The commission, according to the people dealing with the issue, may introduce the green power tariff from this year itself, but only for industries and commercial consumers who would have the choice to choose either of the two tariffs—green tariff or regular tariff.
“Many industries and commercial establishments may like to opt for the green tariff, even if it is a bit higher, because it will help do stamping on their products, flaunting that they use only renewable energy,” they said. “However, green and non-green power cannot be segregated since both flows in the same grid,” they added.
UPERC MEMBER FOR METERS
AT POWER STAFF HOMES
A UPERC member raised the issue of unmetered power supply being provided to power employees and pensioners in violation of the law.
Raising the issue at the meeting on his own, UPERC member (legal) VK Srivastava said power employees were misusing the facility of unmetered supply and insisted that meters were installed in the residences of all the power personnel and pensioners as the earliest.
UPPCL chairman M Devraj and managing director Pankaj Kumar, who were in the meeting, said the corporation was working out a plan for installation of meters on the premises of all the unmetered consumers, including the power staff. UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad chairman and SAC member Avdhesh Kumar Verma suggested that heavy penalty be imposed on the power personnel till they install meters in their houses.
The commission refused to discuss UPPCL’s proposal for tariff rationalisation through changes in slabs after Verma protested, saying there was no logic for discussing the proposal at the SAC meeting when the same proposal was not taken up in the public hearings. Any such tariff rationalisation may make use of electricity costlier for most consumers.
He also reiterated his demand for a downward revision of the existing tariff to adjust ₹22,045 crore that UPPCL had overcharged from consumers over the years by getting tariff hiked more than needed to meet its revenue requirements.
UPERC is expected to declare the new tariff order for the year 2022-23 in the second or third week of July.
