The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has announced that it will not take any decision that will burden consumers in the State.
At a public hearing conducted on the financial requirements and power tariff proposals submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL) here on Friday for the eight districts under its purview, APERC Chairman Justice G. Bhavani Prasad recalled that the commission had conferred with the Chief Minister to increase power supply to the localities dominated by the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes from 50 units a month to 75 units.
Robust changes
Indicating that the power sector had witnessed robust changes, thanks to the use of modern technology, Mr. Prasad pointed out that the power procurement cost had been drastically cut by 77%.
APSPDCL CMD M.M. Nayak announced that his company was providing uninterrupted and quality power, and that no proposal had been made to increase the tariff this year.
The distribution losses came down from 12.98% in 2009-10 to 8.24% for the financial year 2016-17. He indicated that the losses could further be brought down with installation of quality meters.
CPI(M) objection
Meanwhile, CPI(M) State Committee member Kandarapu Murali questioned the company’s wisdom in selling surplus power for ₹2.75 a unit and buying at an exorbitant ₹3.83 from the private players.
He sought the commission’s intervention in curtailing the “looting” of public money in various forms. He expressed doubt that the government was planning to increase the power tariff after the 2019 general elections in a bid to fill the revenue deficit of ₹7,982 crore to the Eastern and Southern power distribution companies.
Several farmer organisations and industry representatives sought clarification on a range of issues.
