The Hindu : New Delhi News : Forced to sell power on lower rates: NDPL

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Forced to sell power on lower rates: NDPL

Staff Reporter

Surplus power has to be offered to the other discoms before selling it to other States
It will adversely affect finances and put unnecessary burden on consumers: NDPL

NEW DELHI: Power distribution company NDPL has alleged that the State Load Dispatch Centre has been forcing it to sell its surplus power to BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) at rates much lower than the market price.

The company claims that the decision of SLDC -- which after the enactment of Electricity Act 2003 was created as a new department under Delhi Transco Limited to ensure integrated operation of the power system in Delhi -- will adversely affect its finances and put unnecessary burden on its consumers.

“We are ready to sell our surplus power to BRPL, but on the condition that they should purchase it on a day ahead basis. But the company disagrees and so does the SLDC,” complained an NDPL official. He went on to add; “They are not only asking us to sell at rates lower than the market price, but the company cannot even sell the remaining quantum of power that the BRPL does not buy.”

For instance, if the NDPL is surplus by 100 MW, and BRPL purchases only 20 MW, the remaining 80 MW cannot be sold to any other buyer, the official explained.

He said if the SLDC does insist on the NDPL selling power at lower rates and does not give it permission to sell it through the exchange, the discom will approach the regulatory commission. “We need the SLDC’s permission to sell and purchase power, if they do not allow us to sell the surplus power then we will approach the regulatory commission,” the official said.

Under the rules the discom surplus in power has to first offer it to the other discoms in the city before selling it to other States.

Officials of the Power Department, however, dismissed NDPL’s allegations and said that the SLDC has asked the company to choose whether they want their surplus power purchased on the basis of the unscheduled interchange rates or on the basis of the exchange rates. “They (NDPL) opted for the UI rates, we have not asked them to sell anything below the market price,” said an official.

Claiming the Government is putting pressure on them to bail out BRPL, the NDPL official said their allocation from the State quota has been reduced to help BSES. “Our allocation from the State quota has been reduced from 105 MW to about 80-90 MW so that BSES can get more power. It seems the NDPL has to pay a penalty for being efficient and arranging adequate power for its consumers,” an official said.

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