Minister for Power R. Viswanathan said that the solar power deal was made in a transparent manner and as per guidelines of Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission. The tariff fixed for solar power procurement was cheaper when compared to other States.
Interacting with media persons here on Friday, he said that since the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could not digest the fact that Tamil Nadu had become a “power surplus State” during the AIADMK rule, it had been making a false propaganda with the help of a section of the media.
The State decided to procure 1,000 MW of solar power in December 2012 and sent proposals to Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for approval on March 25, 2013.
But it turned down the proposal on September 15, 2014, as the State failed to follow CERC guidelines in fixing preferential tariff.
Later, the SERC fixed the price at Rs. 7.01 per unit without accelerated depreciation value and Rs. 6.28 per unit with depreciation value on September 12, 2014, and it, suo motu, mentioned that price was valid for only one year.
Neither the State government nor Tangedco could interfere in it, he added.
The price fixed at that time was much cheaper when compared to the rate prevailing in other States.
It was Rs. 9.44 per unit in Gujarat, Rs. 7.50 in Rajasthan, Rs. 7.95 in Maharashtra and Rs. 7.06 in Uttar Pradesh. The State government tied up with 86 solar power manufacturers to procure 1,484 MW of power.
But only units with production capacity 947 MW were operational.
