Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) on Saturday demanded that the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) should be headed by a neutral competent person and not a government official.
President CICU, Avtar Singh, said the main function of PSERC, constituted by Government of Punjab was to determine the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity.
"But objections and key concerns raised by all the categories of stake holders of electricity during public hearings before the commission to determine tariff are not being considered properly," said Avtar Singh.
He said, "On the contrary, the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd's (PSPCL) proposals are always given adequate weightage and conceded favourably by the commission."
General secretary CICU, Upkar Singh Ahuja, said Commission had biased attitude against the consumers of electricity.
The CICU leaders demanded complete transparency and unbiased consideration while determining power tariff rates for all types of consumers. They also demanded the urgent need to review the composition of the commission.
He further said the PSERC should be headed by a retired High Court Judge/competent technocrat from other state/renowned industrialist having its members from reputed sectors of Punjab Industry. This setup would enable the commission to work as a real autonomous body.
{{/usCountry}}He further said the PSERC should be headed by a retired High Court Judge/competent technocrat from other state/renowned industrialist having its members from reputed sectors of Punjab Industry. This setup would enable the commission to work as a real autonomous body.
{{/usCountry}}CICU has requested chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to consider the aforesaid proposal for reviewing formation of PSERC so as to save and protect the Punjab Industry by offering power tariff rates at par with the neighboring States.