Hike in power tariff likely to be announced today

Delhi’s power regulator is ready with a new tariff policy. If all goes well, a formal announcement is expected on Friday, which can even shift to Saturday, sources told HT.

Delhi’s power regulator is ready with a new tariff policy. If all goes well, a formal announcement is expected on Friday, which can even shift to Saturday, sources told HT.

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While the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) was understandably tightlipped about the exact quantum of the revision, sources suggested that Delhiites would have to pay more for power from now on. But officials are also hoping that the hike does not “shock” people.

Along with the tariff hike, the DERC is also introducing a fuel cost adjustment mechanism component which will be levied every quarter, sources said.

The new tariff comes under the cloud of an ongoing case wherein the high court is deciding whether or not the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) should scrutinise the accounts of the three discoms.

In their tariff petitions, the discoms had asked for the moon — a minimum of 50% hike from the existing rate. In addition to that, there has been the question of truing up of expenses (approving expenditure and computing the return) for 2008-09.

The discoms have been claiming that the true-up alone would effect a hike of at least 50%. They have also been claiming that their financial losses have increased to unsustainable levels.

Discom officials on Thursday cited that tariff has been increased in 15 states in the past one year. In eight of those 15 states, the increase has been between 8 and 12%.

However, Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) have been opposing any hike alleging fudging of accounts and the figures by the discoms.

“Even the DERC has said in the court that it does not scrutinise their accounts. We want a CAG audit,” said Hemanta Sharma, a member of Lajpat Nagar RWA.

Residents also plan to take the protests to the streets if there is a hike.