Consternation over the proposed tariff hikes by the AP Central Power Distribution Company Limited, and concern about the survival of the company marked the Public Hearing held by the State Electricity Regulatory Authority here on Saturday.
Representatives from the CPI(M) including its State secretary B.V. Raghavulu questioned the company's Fuel Surcharge Adjustment figures and sought to know how they rose from being Rs. 50 crore to Rs. 100 crore a few years ago to thousands of crores of rupees now. Noted journalist from the party M. Venugopal Rao alleged manipulation of figures by the company at the government's behest.
“FSA should be calculated for each discom and the burden should be spread out across the tariff sub-categories. Otherwise, a company such as CPDCL with high efficiency levels too will get unduly burdened,” Mr. Rao noted.
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Convenor of the Telangana Joint Action Committee of Electricity Employees K. Raghu pointed at the disparities in consumption and said the cost of service for the consumers should be based on the marginal cost of power purchase. Thus, he said, consumption of over 300 units per month should be categorised as ‘luxury consumption' with a higher tariff fixed at a flat rate.
He sought to question the criterion for ascertaining the Below Poverty Line consumers, and said it should be revised year on year. He also demanded for the Fuel Surcharge Adjustment to be set off against the minimum charges in excess of the consumption.
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TRS MLA T. Harish Rao ascribed the CPDCL's revenue gap to the “faulty policies” of the State government, and said people should not be burdened for the inefficiency of the policy makers. He also pointed out many lacunae in services of the company, especially in rural areas.
“Repair of transformers is not done on time. In case of burnt HVDS transformers, there are no repair facilities. Even AB switches are often out of stock. The company claims to replace the transformers within 48 hours, but what is the sanctity of the claim when the complaint is registered nowhere?” he fumed. He also sought review of allocations for APCPDCL, as it contains the metropolis of GHMC.
M. Kodanda Reddy, Chairman of AP Congress Committee's Kisan Cell demanded that farmers should be made a party in the day-to-day functioning of the local substations, and that monthly meetings be held with participation from agricultural, electricity officials and local politicians.
K. Ramakrishna from CPI alleged discrepancies in the number of borewells presented by discoms and Minor Irrigation departments. He also demanded enquiries into all power purchase agreements with private companies.