Even as the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (NPDCL) has projected its aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) as ₹ 9,886 crore for retail supply business for the fiscal 2017-18, it has retained the tariff for all categories of consumers at 2016-17 levels.
The electricity consumers including the representatives of various farmers’ associations aired their grievances at a public hearing held here on Monday.
The public hearing was conducted by the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission (TSERC) on the proposals submitted by the NPDCL on ARR, tariff proposals and cross subsidy surcharge for the financial year.
Commision Chairman Ismail Ali Khan presided over the session. Commission member (Finance) H. Srinivasulu, NPDCL Chairman and Managing Director A. Gopal Rao were present.
A section of the participants raised issues pertaining to the alleged delay in replacement of faulty transformers, release of new agricultural connections, corruption charges against some errant staff of the NPDCL, tardy implementation of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyothi Yojana (DDUGJY), among other grievances.
The NPDCL, which has 52.90 lakh power consumers spread over five circles including Khammam circle spanning 54 Assembly constituencies and seven Parliamentary constituencies, has estimated its ARR at ₹ 9,886 crore including ₹ 7,326 crore for power purchase / procurement cost, ₹ 2,494 crore for network cost and ₹ 65 crore for other expenditure
It has projected sales of a little over 13,865 million units and estimated energy requirement at 16,323 million units for 2017-18.
Cross subsidy surcharge
In its retail supply tariff proposals, the company has proposed to retain the tariff of 2016-17 for 2017-18 for various categories of consumers.
The NPDCL, in its proposals, urged the Commission to fix the cross subsidy surcharge as per national tariff policy dated January 28, 2016.
Speaking at the public hearing, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh State president P. Anji Reddy deplored that the delay in repairs and replacement of defunct transformers was causing severe ordeals to the farmers. He sought prompt replacement of faulty transformers to avoid loss to the farming community.
Telangana Rythu Sangham leader Nageswara Rao found fault with the alleged poor implementation of the Centre-sponsored DDUGJY in the district. He wanted the authorities to ensure electricity supply to Medepalli in Enkoor mandal under the rural electrification scheme and also installation of electricity poles at Sundaraiahnagar in Wyra.
Congress leader from Karimnagar district Sashi Bushan Kache sought immediate payment of ex-gratia to two persons who were electrocuted by ‘dangling power lines’ last year in Manthani of Peddapalli district and Bhoopalapalli of Jayashankar Bhoopalapalli district last year.
Representatives of the Rice Millers Association and various other organisations aired their views on the occasion.
