Thursday, February 7, 2013

Regulator invites opinion on tariff hike

If you have any objections to the tariff hike proposed by the three power distribution companies, you can soon start sending your opinion to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).  Next week, the DERC will come out with a public notice inviting suggestions and objections on the Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR) submitted by the three power distribution companies. According to DERC officials, they have proposed a hike to the extent of 2 to 13 per cent.

“We will issue a public notice inviting suggestions and objections from the public. We want people to read the ARR submitted by the three discoms and if they have any objections or queries they can send us their response,” said DERC chairman P D Sudhakar. 

He said information regarding the public notice would be published in all newspapers and the website of DERC too. “All the ARRs are also on our website and can be downloaded by people, who want to study or examine them,” added Sudhkar. 

People will get three weeks time to send their objections, which will then be scrutinised by DERC officials. Once this process is over, DERC will hold public hearings where people can raise their concerns regarding the tariff hike. 

Submitting the ARR report is an annual feature for the power distribution companies, who are required to provide details of the profits/ losses that they have incurred and the assets that they need to build on. Based on this report, the DERC then decides on the quantum of hike that the discoms require.

A consultant has also been roped in by the DERC who will assist the commission in examining the documents. “We are going to study and examine the ARRs and will decide whether the hike is justifiable or not. The process will take a few months,” said a senior DERC official. 

Last year, the city had witnessed a power tariff hike of 26 per cent increasing people’s electricity bills significantly. 


with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

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