In a development which could mean a substantial tariff hike for Delhi’s power consumers, power distribution company BSES has informed the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission that its proposal for an eight-year plan to recover outstanding dues of Rs.8,000 crore isn’t enough.
Both the Reliance-owned discoms – BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna – have requested the DERC that the due recovery period be reduced to three years, which if accepted by the regulator would mean a substantial tariff hike for consumers.
The discoms also asked the power regulator that they be allowed to meet the revenue gap, which runs into thousands of crores, through surcharge rather than tariff. Last month they had requested for doubling the rate of surcharge, which the DERC rejected, and asked the discoms to continue with the rates of the last quarter, which range from 6-8 per cent.
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Earlier this year, the power regulator had asked the two discoms to come up with a recovery plan.
The discoms also approached the Supreme Court, which is hearing the case about their outstanding dues with the national power generator NTPC.
“A roadmap has been given for the recovery of shortfall in tariff of the past. It is spread over six years – 2014-15 to 2019-20. We want just one change in that – a roadmap of three years,” the BSES counsel informed the apex court.
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For his part, DERC Chairman P.D. Sudhakar said the final decision on the discoms’ plea will be made only after seeing the final figures of their revenue. Sources in the DERC said the regulator is unlikely to accept the discoms’ plea to reduce the tenure of the recovery of their dues as it could lead to a huge tariff burden on consumers.
“The liquidation of the revenue gap of Rs.3,643 crore for BRPL, Rs.1,998 crore for BYPL and Rs.2,359 crore for Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited is proposed in a scheduled manner through equal instalments to avoid tariff burden on consumers,” said the DERC letter to the discoms.