The relief announced by the EPDCL on the orders of the APERC has evoked a mixed reaction from the HT and LT consumers.
While demanding scrapping of penalty system for violation of restriction and control (R&C) measures introduced vide APERC order dated September 9, 2012, the high-value consumers welcomed the relief announced on Wednesday.
The penalty imposed as part of enforcing R&C measures, which the EPDCL says is a must to ensure grid discipline, has already exceeded Rs.130 crore with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited topping the list with a fine of Rs.51.53 crore for the period from September 9-November 30, 2012.
The shops, malls and commercial establishments as well as cinema theatre owners are very happy with the latest relief given to them. In fact, the prawn hatcheries are most benefited as they have been totally exempted from R&C measures.
“We are very happy with the order but we want that the penalty system, which is a shame and disgrace for the entrepreneurs providing jobs, should be scrapped immediately,” Symbiosys Technologies CEO Naresh Kumar said.
80 per cent drawal
The new order allows HT-2 consumers to avail permitted demand limit (PDL) of 80 per cent contracted maximum demand (CMD) in both peak and off peak hours along with permitted consumption limit (PCL) of 50 per cent in peak and 40 per cent in off peak till February 28.
The process industries, which are in HT-1 category, are allowed 30 per cent PDL during peak instead of 20 per cent. Hundred per cent contract demand in both off peak and peak is allowed for HT-I, LT-III A and LT-III B consumers.
Big disappointment
About 600 units functioning at the Autonagar, Gajuwaka have suffered a lot due to power cuts and restrictions imposed so far.
The units engaging 10,000 workers were forced to cut down their production by 40 per cent. Delivery schedule to vendors got adversely hit due to power crisis. Visakha Autonagar Small Scale Industrialists’ Welfare Association president Ramakrishna Narappareddy said the APERC order fell short of their expectation as it would benefit only those units which were located at mandal headquarters. “It came as a rude shock as we are ignored despite priority status given to us due to employment of several workers,” he said. LT 3 and 3B consumers get 70 per cent of required power for 20 hours.
During peak hour load restriction from 6 to 10 p.m., they are allowed to use only 10 per cent for lighting purpose.
Though 29 entrepreneurs from the Autonagar and 75 others from Rushikonda IT Park and other areas have applied for expensive power, EPDCL is not in a position to provide it to all due to technical problems.
