Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta on Friday alleged that power companies had made changes in fixed power tariffs twice in the last six to seven months and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which was getting “huge amounts from the public” as a permanent fee being forwarded to the private power companies had become “a spokesperson” for the latter.
Alleging that a party, which had come to power by talking about power companies monopoly over the sector and had promised to reduce the electricity rate by erasing the corruption of former governments, was now looking the other way even as private power companies, in the last six months had increased fixed fees for the second time.
“In the last six months, the power companies have increased the fixed duty two times. Until August 2017, there were only three categories of fixed fees... But since September 1, 2017, the fixed fee had been increased from three to five categories,” he said.
‘A conspiracy’
Mr. Gupta said that a review of this increase, in the interval of six months, would reveal that an increment of 10 times had been made in fixed duty.
The LoP also questioned the role of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and alleged violations of rules in its formation.
“It was a conspiracy to benefit the private power companies by the government of Delhi. When BJP MLAs protested over the issue, they were silenced. It is clear that due to opposition from BJP legislators, the Delhi government was forced to declare new rates of subsidy. After this, most people are forced to withstand the huge bills of electricity due to the fixed duty,” he alleged.
