Move to shield honest payers in power cases

I feel the Electric supply companies should be brought under the ambit of RTI, an instrument for the general public to be aware of the real going in the department.  Without RTI the Electric companies and their employees are fleecing the public in general and are enjoying their life lavishly.  Transparency in the system is only possible if the system is controlled by the agencies like RTI. Moreover it will be appreciable if the DERC decides to grant some rebate to Senior Citizens who have attained the age of 65 years or more. Please do send your comments.  

R K Nanda  

President 

'Sahyog' Varishst Nagrik Manch, (Regd.)  

President Railway Pensioners Welfare Association (Regd.)

Move to shield honest payers in power cases

Dear Sir,       A very good news has been given and this will certainly relief to hundreds of consumers.  In our area of Laxmi Nagar, one consumer has been issued a  bill of Rs. 20 lakhs on account of DAE and the culprit  was the unauthorized l tenant who was caught while stealing the electricity and a FIR was also written in the Police Station accepting his fault in front of BSES officials but later he  ran away and the target has been  made to the owner of the house who is now in great trouble and apprehending arrest by police.  I sincerely hope, you will find time to  help the innocent consumer.  Though I  have advised him to take up the matter through a lawyer as BSES are interested in bargaining the amount.       I hope to hear from you shortly.      Thanks and regards,      Ashok K Bhatnagar

Move to shield honest payers in power cases

NEW DELHI: Soon, it will be mandatory for the city's power distribution companies (discoms) to check the consumption and payment records of consumers before accusing them of power theft. Citing a steep increase in the number of complaints of harassment against discoms, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has decided to change the procedure for registering a case for unauthorized use of electricity against any consumer.

The amendments will be made in the proposed Delhi Electricity Supply Code and Performance Standards Regulations Draft-2012, which has been in the making for the last few years. However, the draft is now expected to be amended and put up on the DERC website by June.

"Since we have been getting complaints and suggestions internally from our members, and the public, we have decided to amend certain portions of the draft wherein we want to strengthen the part that deals with the procedure for booking a case for unauthorized use of electricity against any consumer," said P D Sudhakar, chairman, DERC.

As per the proposed amendments, discoms will not be allowed to register a theft case on the basis of mere "suspicion". Officials said in many cases it was found that discoms had booked people who have genuine meter faults without even checking their credentials. Once this regulation is approved, a consumer who has made regular payments against his consumption will be given ample chance to explain himself before being booked for theft.

DERC is also considering directing the discoms to collect concrete evidence against a consumer before registering a case. "We want them to strictly adhere to the principle of natural justice wherein consumers are mandatorily issued notice and given time to respond," Sudhakar said. Also, the draft suggests recording of complaints in the presence of a witness, who could be a neighbour. DERC sources claim to receive at least 50 cases of harassment by discoms in the name of power theft every year.

The draft supply and performance code has also suggested enhancement of fines being imposed on the discoms for delay in addressing consumers' complaints related to failed supply, burnt meters or a transformer snag. The fines may go up to Rs 100 per day, or even more. Discom performance codes were last reviewed in 2007. A public hearing to discuss the draft that has been on the website was held a year ago but it has remained in limbo.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

SARBJIT SINGH : Seema Paar Kaidi : Rajya Sabha TV : B S Vohra

Link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDrhNAjZRE&list=UUeYmG2G7RS6SlgNnLGVNSMQ&index=1

Video :

Surcharge up, power to cost more in Delhi : Hindustan Times

Surcharge up, power to cost more in Delhi

Power bills are set to go up in the city from this month, with the regulator announcing a 1.5% increase in surcharge on Friday. The hike comes ahead of new tariffs which are expected to be on the higher side.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has doubled the provisional power purchase cost adjustment charges (PPAC) for the city's distribution companies, applicable for three months starting May 1. HT wrote on Thursday that the hike was coming.

On an average, the surcharge will add Rs. 40 - to Rs. 90 to the bills, depending on the power consumed. Every three months, city’s power firms submit the price at which they buy power to DERC, which decides if the costs — purchasing price and fuel rates —need to be adjusted in the form of a surcharge.

The surcharge will be revised at the end of the three-month period.

A provisional PPAC of 1.5% has been approved for BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL).  The new PPAC will be 4.5% for BRPL and BYPL, and 3% for TPDDL consumers.

Thursday's increase will be applicable as a surcharge on the total fixed and energy charges and the bill will clearly indicate the percentage and amount of PPCA, the DERC said.

"They're planning to increase the tariff this year too. How will a middle-class family afford it?" said BS Vohra, an east Delhi RWA joint front member.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

Price Hike : Power Tariff, Auto, Taxi, Milk : Total TV : B S Vohra

LINK :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5XMY3Weycs&list=UUeYmG2G7RS6SlgNnLGVNSMQ&index=1

Power Tariff - Fuel Surcharge up by 1.5%, a big hike expected soon ?

In todays Hindustan Times there was a news with the heading  Power purchase cost rising, discoms seek hike in tariff. The news further said that, " DERC will take a final decision after taking all the points into consideration such as increase in fuel cost etc. ".

But its quite shocking to note that today itself DERC has raised the Power Tariff by 1.5% on the name of Fuel Surcharge & another big hike is expected soon. Does it mean that they have checked all the points in just few hours ?

Power purchase cost rising, discoms seek hike in tariff

Your electricity bills may soon increase significantly with the power regulator all set to approve the power-purchase cost adjustment (PPAC) for distribution companies for this quarter.

Though the electricity tariff is approved in a year, discoms have to keep on purchasing power from generating companies at different rates and fuel prices also keep on changing throughout the year. Discoms submit the actual price at which they have purchased power every three months and the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) determines whether it needs to be adjusted in the form of a surcharge.

According to DERC officials, discoms BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) have sought a 9 per cent increase in the surcharge. Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) has asked for a 12 per cent increase.

“We have received their power-purchase cost submission for this quarter. A fixed formula is applied to determine the percentage increase. The quantum is yet to be determined but there will surely be an increase,” said a senior DERC official.The official said while BRPL and BYPL have submitted for a power-purchase cost adjustment for the previous period, the TPDDL submitted it for the current period too.Thepower-purchase cost adjustment will be applicable from May.At present, consumers in TPDDL areas pay 1.5% surcharge while in BRPL and BYPL, they pay 3%. They had been paying this surcharge since February 1.

“The percentage increase on account of PPAC will be applicable as a surcharge on the total fixed and energy charges (excluding arrears, LPSC, E Tax etc.). The bill format will clearly identify the percentage and amount of PPA as separate entities,” explained the official.    Power distribution companies claim that they have to pay power suppliers such as the National Thermal Power Corporation and generation companies of Delhi on a monthly basis and the earlier method of recovery of these expenses used to take them at least two years to get the returns.

“Power distribution companies submit their bills stating the rate at which they have purchased cost. However, DERC will take a final decision after taking all the points into consideration such as increase in fuel cost etc,” added the official.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK

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