DMRC and DJB seek lower tariff

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Delhi Jal Board have sought lower power tariff on a cost-of-supply basis. The last day of the public hearing had government agencies and non-governmental organisations coming in with their comments of the tariff petitions. HT reports.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Delhi Jal Board have sought lower power tariff on a cost-of-supply basis. The last day of the public hearing had government agencies and non-governmental organisations coming in with their comments of the tariff petitions.

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Sources said the discoms have by and large agreed with the demand but the cost of supply has also increased in the past two years.

Since the last tariff order notified in 2009, the DMRC enjoys power at cost-to-serve basis since it argued that it managed its own distribution network beyond a 66KV line from discoms. The discoms have said that they provide uninterrupted power to DMRC even if that means sometimes buying power at higher costs.

The Delhi Jal Board, which draws power from several points, even 44 KV and 11 KV, the cost of supply to it is higher. However, in the last tariff order the DERC had asked it to meterise all points of power consumption like pumping stations. It had asked for a concessional tariff. But then, the DERC had said that any subsidy based on socio-economic factors should be extended by the state government and electricity tariff should not be the medium to promote social causes.

"We have asked for more transparency from the DERC, which should first set its house in order," said Anil Sood of Chetna, an NGO.

Sources said the discoms have sought from the DERC a different format of public hearing from next year to get the chance to reply to all allegations and comments made by stakeholders in the presence of the people at the hearing.

"If we are given a chance to reply to the queries raised by the people then and there, then we can satisfy all their queries," said a senior discom official.

But some DERC officials said that public hearing was all about the power regulator learning about the comments of the stakeholders on the tariff petitions already in public domain.