After four years of continuous hike in power tariff, Delhiites on Thursday were saved from another power shocker as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) decided against any increase in electricity rates for this year. Soon after the quasi-judicial power regulator made the announcement, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was quick to credit it all to “honest politics”.
Explaining reasons for the tariffs remaining unchanged, DERC chairman PD Sudhakar told The Hindu that regulatory assets or past costs of the discoms have finally began to liquidate. “Between March 2013 and 2014 as much as Rs. 1,982 crore have been liquidated. Then there is also a revenue surplus of Rs. 445 crore with the discoms this year. The eight percent surcharge which will continue is for de-capitalising which is paying off now,” said Mr. Sudhakar.
The Delhi government immediately expressed its delight on the announcement, but also subtly stated that the regulator could have decreased the rates. “Congratulations Delhiites. A big relief to u. No power tariff hike. I told u it was possible. All becoz of honest politics,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.
Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain also tweeted, “DERC appears to have kept views of the people of Delhi in mind in deciding tariff petitions, though I feel tariffs should have been reduced.”
Meanwhile, in a good news for residents of group housing societies, from October 1 onwards, the existing slabs of power consumption will be applicable for housing societies which will bring them at par with domestic consumers. With this, households in group housing societies will also be able to avail the 50 per cent subsidy on consumption of up to 400 units. Time of day metering (ToD) has been made mandatory for all commercial/industrial users having load of 25 kilo watt and more. He said those having load between 11KV and 25 KV will also have the option of going for ToD.
The regulator has modified the ToD, which has different tariff slabs for power consumption in peak and off-peak hours, and has decided that it shall remain applicable only during the summer months (May-September).
Peak hour timings have been revised and the rebate during off peak hours has been reduced from 25 per cent to 20 per cent. It shall continue to be 20 per cent during peak hours.
As per demand of the Delhi government, a pension trust for which an amount of Rs. 573 crore has been set aside which will be part of the annual revenue requirement, informed the regulator.
