Discoms want 40% rise in power tariffs

Power distribution companies have sought a hike in electricity tariff by about 40 per cent — but in a somewhat roundabout way, reporst Avishek G Dastidar.

Power distribution companies have sought a hike in electricity tariff by about 40 per cent — but in a somewhat roundabout way.

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On paper, discoms have shown revenue calculations of a mere 8-9 per cent hike next year to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission.

But the numbers hidden in expenditure and revenue books for the current and the previous years impact next year’s tariff by at least four times of what is sought, a DERC source said.

“There were huge government dues passed on to us three years ago,” said Gopal Saxena, CEO, BSES Rajdhani.

“The revenue gaps shown by the three discoms are exceptionally huge,” said a senior DERC official. “Approving them even after some pruning could end up increasing tariff by not less than 40 per cent.”