The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has extended the date for electricity supply companies (Escoms) to file their tariff revision applications to December 13 after they pleaded for the same.
An official release from the KERC said it had called for an explanation from Escoms for the delay in filing the tariff revision applications. The Escoms informed the commission that the delay was due to many reasons, including delay in reconciling inter-Escom energy sales; non-finalisation of half yearly accounts for the 2013-14; time needed for reconciliation of source-wise power purchase cost; and non-finalisation of capital investment programme and costs for 2014-15.
In view of the short extension of time prayed for by the Escoms, the commission without going into the merits of the grounds urged by them, decided that all of them, except Hukkeri Rural Electric Cooperative Society Ltd., be given time for filing tariff revision applications along with annual performance review and the audited accounts for 2012-13 on or before December 13. Hukkeri society has been given till December 31 to file the application.
Public hearingsThe commission is required to finalise the tariff revision of Escoms before the commencement of the next financial year as per the Karnataka Electricity Act, 2003. After the scrutiny of the applications, the KERC will have to conduct public hearings on the demands before arriving at a decision on the tariff revision.
The last tariff revision was announced by KERC on May 5, 2013, after a delay of over a month due to the Assembly elections. The tariff was allowed to be increased by 23 paise a unit over the previous year’s tariff.
