The power distribution companies in the Capital may run a public relations campaign before the 50 per cent relief in electricity bills for those consuming up to 400 units monthly gets discontinued from April 1. The campaign will try to “communicate” to consumers and is aimed to lessen their ‘shock’ after the power tariff hike, said sources in the discoms.
The relief was provided by the Aam Aadmi Party government from January, but will not be carried out from the coming financial year due to the party’s exit from the Delhi Government.
“From April 1, the 50 per cent power tariff provided by the AAP Government will discontinue which will certainly shoot up the power bills… So, we need to communicate to the consumers that the power tariff hike or waiver is not in our hands,” said a discom official.
“The gas price increase from April 1 and its subsequent impact on the power purchasing cost will have to be shared with the consumers. So we are expecting troubled times ahead,” he added.
Meanwhile, residents of Delhi are facing possibility of another power tariff hike as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC) has begun the process of determining power tariff for the next financial year. The three discoms – Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Reliance-backed BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna – have asked for increase in power tariffs arguing that the current power rates do not reflect the substantial increase in their power purchasing cost.
