DERC invites ideas for solar power metering

NEW DELHI: Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has invited suggestions and feedback from stakeholders on a proposal to introduce netmetering for rooftop solar power generation as per guidelines laid down by the ministry of new and renewable energy. 

The commission claims that, with about 300 sunny days in Delhi a year and around 30 lakh households, Delhi has more than 700 sq km of built-up area for installation of photo-voltaic systems. With net metering, the commission will be able to keep an account of how much self-generated solar power the consumer will retain, how much they will pass to the distribution grid and how much they will draw from it. 

"Net metering will help in keeping account of the power produced from the solar panels. We are waiting for consumer feedback on the proposal before we proceed to fix up solar power tariffs," said an official. 

Senior officials said introducing solar power policy in Delhi has become a priority for DERC though the proposal has been stuck in red tape for years. "If somebody wants to generate solar power for their own purposes, they may do so and, if they produce more, they can then have an arrangement with their power supplier BSES or Tata to send the excess power in the distribution grid. The consumer can simultaneously draw solar power from this grid," DERC chairperson P D Sudhakar said. 

Renewable energy analysts, meanwhile, have had mixed responses about DERC's draft net metering proposal. Some clauses may not be very encouraging for people who plan to have solar rooftop facilities. 

Manish Ram, renewable energy analyst with Greenpeace India, says it's a "good initiative" to have a net metering proposal but adds "DERC's policy says that the capacity to be allowed for each distribution transformer shall not exceed 15% of the capacity of that transformer. I am not sure why there is such a limit. If people have rooftop space they must be allowed to instal bigger capacity solar generation facilities". 

Delhi doesn't have a solar policy, a fact that may constrain people from accessing incentives for producing solar energy. Delhi's environment department has prepared a draft solar policy that upholds "production-based subsidy". This means the government will pay for the units of energy one saves by using solar power. People who plan install solar roof-tops can also enjoy a 30% subsidy on solar panels from the ministry.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Experts warn taxpayer of power tariff burden

NEW DELHI: Electricity tariffs in Delhi have become the biggest selling point for political parties in Wednesday's polls. While new entrant Aam Aadmi Party has promised to cut tariffs in Delhi by 50% if it comes to power, the BJP manifesto has assured a 30% reduction. However, power sector industry experts say that, with discoms already defaulting on payments and unable to pay generation companies, the only way out would be increasing government subsidy.

Delhi discoms BSES Yamuna, BSES Rajdhani and Tata Power Delhi have been complaining to regulatory body DERC over unrealistic tariffs for the last several years. The financial situation of discoms has reached a point where they claim they are surviving only on bank loans and borrowings.

Reliance discoms, in fact, have been regularly defaulting on payments to NTPC, Damodar Valley, IPGCL and PPCL. DERC has also accepted that tariffs in Delhi are below par and have announced a series of hikes over the last few years to meet costs. In this scenario, promises by political parties for a tariff reduction could only come at the cost of the taxpayer if government subsidies are increased, say experts.

Tata Power Delhi CEO Praveer Sinha said, "Reduction in tariffs is only determined by DERC and the government or political parties have no role in this. The only way to reduce tariffs is by giving more subsidies. Discoms have to be financially sustainable and there is no clear cut way to reduce tariffs and can only come down by the subsidy mechanism. Even DERC knows that unless generation costs go down, power tariffs cannot reduce and it is the commission's responsibility to make the power sector sustainable."

"Unless there is some subsidy proposed by the government, with the current financial situation of the discoms, a tariff reduction is not possible. Companies are already not able to meet costs," a top official from east Delhi discom BSES Yamuna said. DERC officials, meanwhile, declined to comment on promises made by political parties and said they had no interaction with any party and were not involved in any party's agenda.

While AAP claims that a CAG audit of discoms will automatically show how discoms are actually in profit, BJP has come out with its own formula including bringing in more distribution utilities to end the current Reliance/Tata monopoly and bring down tariffs. "One of the ideas proposed is reducing surplus power. What parties do not understand is that surplus power is essential to ensure 24/7 availability of power in the city. To meet peak hour demand, surplus is sometimes necessary in certain time slots," explained a BSES official.

with thanks : Times of India : Link

Thanks Delhiites for BREAKING the RECORD - it's in between 65 % to 70%. Final figures awaited.

Voted ?

Must vote today if you don't want a HUNG HOUSE !

MUST VOTE : 4th December : Vote Delhi Vote :

दोस्तो, 

पाँच सालों के बाद एक मौका मिलता है, अपनी वोट डाल कर अपनी मनपसंद सरकार को चुनने का. हम यह नही कहते की किस पार्टी को वोट डालो बल्कि हम तो सिर्फ़ इतना चाहते हैं की आप अपने मत का सदुपयोग करो, अपने वोट का पर्योग करो और अपनी मनपसंद सरकार को चुन लो. 

क्या आप इस मौके का सदुपयोग नही करोगे ? क्या सारा दिन सिर्फ़ व्यर्थ में खराब कर दोगे और फिर बाद में कलपोगे की यह नही हुआ या वो नही हुआ ? 

अभी भी समय है, उठो, जागो, सवेरा होने वाला है, सूरज निकलने वाला है, आप खुद भी वोट डालो और अपने सभी दोस्तों, रिश्तेदारों को भी बोलो कि वोट ज़रूर डालनी है. 

आप भी इस देश के ज़िम्मेदार नागरिक हो. हम उम्मीद करते हैं की कल Delhi वाले पिछले सारे रेकॉर्ड तोड़ कर वोट डालने का एक नया कीर्तिमान बनाएँगे. 

धन्यवाद

बी एस वोहरा

www.RWABhagidari.com

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Vote Delhi Vote : must Vote on 4th December :

RWAs appeal to the residents of Delhi for a Decisive Mandate :

Plz refer all the Elections related survey reports on various TV channels & Print media. Most of these are clearly showing the HUNG DELHI ASSEMBLY.

Do you think, we can afford, another Poll after a month, as even the Political permutations & combinations, seem impossible, due to reasons known to everyone.

If we want to come out of this upcoming Political Mess, we must use our brain & not just the heart alone, while casting our valuable vote.

Therefore, we hereby appeal to the DELHIITES, to come out on 4^th of December, in huge numbers, with friends & relatives, to cast our most valuable Vote, and BE ASSURED, we will give a DECISIVE MANDATE on 8^th of December.

Thanks

B S Vohra

East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, ( Federation ),

www.RWABhagidari.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.in

Are we heading for a HUNG HOUSE ?

With Thanks : Hindustan Times

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BJP opposes DERC move to initiate process to hike power tariff

Opposing the move by Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to hike power tariff, BJP today said the regulator is working in a doubtful manner. 

Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel alleged that the DERC's move was in collusion with the power discoms. 

He said there was no need for an increase as BJP was convinced that power tariff in Delhi can easily be slashed by 30 per cent. 

"The DERC is working in a doubtful manner to hike power tariff in Delhi. The consultants have been appointed and advertisement has been given for the purpose. The BJP strongly condemns this attempt to hike power tariff. The party is committed to reduction of power tariff by 30 per cent, if elected," Goel said. 

He said BJP has been raising the issue of transparency in tariff setting by DERC and also process of tariff determination. 

"The fact that the consultants appointed by the DERC were also either statutory auditors or were working for one or the other discoms, it constitutes a breach of trust on the part of the DERC. There is clear conflict of interests on part of the consultants," Goel said. 

Questioning the move, he said that DERC seems to be in a hurry to hike tariff while the election was around the corner. 

"Whatever policy decision was to be taken regarding revision of power tariff should be taken by the new government. But, the DERC's action reflects collusion between the regulator, which seems to be acting at the behest of the Congress government and the private discoms," Goel said. 

The BJP had raised the issue in March, when he along with Member of State Advisory Committee of DERC Anil Sood and other experts met the DERC Chairman. 

The DERC Chairman then admitted that the regulator committed mistake in the appointment of the consultants and assured the delegation to rectify the mistake soon, he said, adding but, the advertisement released by the DERC on November 28 and appearing in newspapers shows a totally casual and careless attitude of the DERC. 

"On the one hand the discoms were likely to submit the Aggregate Revenue Requirements (ARR) and on the other, it is extending the date for submission of Request for Proposal by the Consultants. This means the DERC was not at all ready to review the ARR and undertake the exercise of True-Up," he said.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK