Tuesday, August 8, 2017

DERC’s tariff hike plan threatens to jolt AAP’s power play : The Hindu

How can Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, hike the power tariff without answering our issues, that we raised at the Public hearing on 19th of July. Our issues covered a whole lot of things, such as Regulatory assets, Carrying costs, ROE, AT&C as well Distribution losses, O&M expenses, Surplus sales and a lot more. Though we have started getting replies from various DISCOMs, we are still awaiting a reply from the Hon'ble DERC. Our issue was prominently covered by The Hindu Newspaper, as below. Thanks.  B S Vohra


Monday, August 7, 2017

Automatic Systems to maintain Utilities at Delhi

HE Anil Baijal Ji,

​1. App should be developed for the following services so that the citizens can send the photo / details to one central point to get the Utility in order.

1.01 Street Lights
1.02 Traffic Lights
1.03 Leakage of water
1.04 ​Defacement
1.05 Potholes on the Roads 
1.06 Encroachment on Pavements
1.07 Encroachment of Public Places
1.08 Wrong Sign Posts
1.09 Waterlogging specially during rains.
1.10 Women related events
1.11 Dhalaos

2. The WhatsApp No and the email ID should be promulgated.
3. The citizens of Delhi want to help the authorities to make Delhi a Capital which every countryman shall be proud of.

Without blaming anyone, we want to discuss across the table to identify the bottlenecks and the plan of action to overcome the same.
You are the Executive Head of Delhi and control the Delhi Police, Delhi Government and the Civic Agencies.

 We have a network of RWAs across Delhi.

About 15-20 active citizens across Delhi would like to call on you to discuss the same.

Please give us some time and set up a meeting.


Col Shivraj
Convenor
Poster Hatao Campaign

DERC’s tariff hike plan threatens to jolt AAP’s power play

After almost two years, the power regulator is considering revising the rates despite the disapproval of the Arvind Kejriwal government, which came to power in 2015 on the promise of cheap electricity and water supply

Is your monthy power bill making you break into a sweat this summer? Get ready to shell out some more as the power regulator, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), is considering a tariff hike after almost two years. Power rates in the city were last revised in 2014, when the tariff was hiked by 6%.
In 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power promising cheap electricity and water supply. Since then, the government has not allowed revision of power tariffs.
However, sources said that this year the DERC is considering a tariff increase of up to 5% as the three discoms -- BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (TPDPL) -- have showed a combined revenue gap of ₹21,624 crore. BRPL has given an aggregate revenue requirement (ARR) of ₹9,052 crore, TPDDL has demanded ₹7,680 crore and BYPL ₹4,892 crore.

Revenue shortfall

The discoms reportedly told the DERC that the revenue shortfall is a result of a non-cost reflective tariff over the past many years.
An announcement regarding tariff hike, which was supposed to be made on Friday, has been put on hold after pressure from political parties and Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs).
The residents have strongly opposed the move, stating that there is no point in increasing power rates as the discoms have done nothing to improve the services in the city. During peak power season, between May and August, several localities, especially unauthorised neighbourhoods, experience outages lasting up to 12 hours.
“The only consolation is that the bills are not very high. We will be forever grateful to the Arvind Kejriwal-led government for this. Before this, we would rarely get electricity during summers but still the bills would be high,” said Sonia Kumari, a resident of south Delhi’s Sangam Vihar.

Not all benefit

At present, electricity rates in Delhi start at ₹4 per unit for consumption of up to 200 units, going up to ₹5.80-₹5.90 per unit for 200-400 units, and ₹7.30 per unit for 400-800 units and higher for more consumption. The exact rates vary based on the electricity provider.
Those living in rented accommodations, however, claim they are yet to benefit from the lower rates. According to the 2011 census, around 38% of all families in Delhi live in rented accommodations. “The slashing of power tariff has made no difference in our lives. Our landlord charges us ₹9 per unit. If the rates are further hiked then how will we pay for other things?” said Sharmila, a resident of Raja Garden.
The Delhi discoms were privatised in July 2002. The distribution firms are joint ventures with Delhi Power Co. Ltd, which owns a 49% stake in each. The other discoms in Delhi are Military Engineering Services (for Delhi Cantonment) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
In a short-lived previous stint, the AAP government had offered to take over the functioning of the distribution utilities and also suggested the appointment of its officials as administrative officers for the utilities.

In the dark: During peak power season, between May and August, several localities, especially unauthorised neighbourhoods, experience outages lasting up to 12 hours.   | Photo Credit: Shanker Chakravarty


Trouble for AAP

The two discoms had also earlier sparred with the AAP government over tariff, with the then government announcing a 50% cut in electricity tariffs for households consuming up to 400 units of power per month.
The president of the East Delhi RWAs Joint Front, B. S. Vohra, said that there are many issues that need to be resolved before the regulatory authority considers a tariff hike. “Problems with regulatory assets, carrying costs, return on equity, surplus sales, operation and management expenses, Aggregate Technical and Commercial losses as well as distribution loses, have to be taken care of first,” he said.
“Unless the services are improved the DERC has no moral right to hike the power tariff,” Mr. Vohra added.
If the DERC decides to revise power tariffs, it will come as a huge blow to the ruling AAP government. The party’s manifesto in 2015 had promised reduction of electricity bills by half, CAG audit of discoms, Delhi’s own power plant, introduction of competition among discoms and Delhi as a solar city.

Trying their best

While the first promise was fulfilled within 11 days of the party coming to power, the CAG audit of power discoms is sub-judice and since 2002 only two discoms continue to provide power to the entire city, without competition.
The promise of making Delhi a solar city is gradually being fulfilled with the government notifying the ‘Delhi Solar Energy Policy, 2015,’ in June 2016. But it is yet to release the list of empanelled companies so that domestic consumers can get solar panels on their rooftops and avail 30% subsidy offered by the government.
“We have been in talks with the DERC and have clearly stated our disapproval for the tariff increase. There seems to be major interference by some outside elements in the functioning of the DERC. But we will not allow the people of Delhi to suffer because of the greed of the BJP,” said Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain.
with thanks : The Hindu : LINK 

Happy Rakhi !


Sunday, August 6, 2017

Happy Friendship Day - Friendship with the Mother Nature !





Small Kids as Rag pickers on the Vikas Marg (?) Delhi



Shocked to find small kids as rag pickers in the knee deep waters of Delhi with a rikshaw on the Vikas marg that always has massive traffic. Moreover, it was Monday, which means they were not the schoolgoers. Sad & Shocking. Govt must do something to look after such kids.









Friday, August 4, 2017

10 Sawal - Mr Arvind Kejriwal - on Power Tariff, DISCOMs & DERC : Question 1



















Mr Arvind Kejriwal,
CM, Delhi 

Subject - Section 61 of the Electricity Act - 
Competition & Safeguarding of Consumers interest

Dear Sir,

Section 61 of the Electricity Act talks about the competition as well Safeguarding of the Consumers interest, as below : 

Section 61. (Tariff regulations): The Appropriate Commission shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, specify the terms and conditions for the determination of tariff, and in doing so, shall be guided by the following, namely:- (a) the principles and methodologies specified by the Central Commission for determination of the tariff applicable to generating companies and transmission licensees; (b) the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity are conducted on commercial principles; (c) the factors which would encourage competition, efficiency, economical use of the resources, good performance and optimum investments; (d) safeguarding of consumers' interest and at the same time, recovery of the cost of electricity in a reasonable manner; (e) the principles rewarding efficiency in performance; (f) multi year tariff principles; 1[(g) that the tariff progressively reflects the cost of supply of electricity and also, reduces cross-subsidies in the manner specified by the Appropriate Commission;] (h) the promotion of co-generation and generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy; (i) the National Electricity Policy and tariff policy: Provided that the terms and conditions for determination of tariff under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948, the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998 and the enactments specified in the Schedule as they stood immediately 1 Subs. by Act 26 of 2007, Sec. 10 [w.e.f. 15th June 2007]. The Electricity Act, 2003 before the appointed date, shall continue to apply for a period of one year or until the terms and conditions for tariff are specified under this section, whichever is earlier.

Sir, BYPL became operational in July 2002 and received a License for Distribution and Retail Supply of Electricity, issued by the Hon’ble Commission in March 2004, which is valid for 25 years. Similar is the case for BRPL & TPDDL. 

Sir, Out of these 25 years, more than 50% of the time has already passed till March 2017. But till date we have not heard anything from DERC, about the COMPETITION amongst the DISCOMs, which was very primarily mentioned in section 61 of the Electricity Act, 2003, for safeguarding the interest of the consumers. 

QUESTION 1 :
May we request you to please ask from DERC, that what has been done by DERC, to promote competition amongst the DISCOMs, in the Last 13 years ?

Looking forward for your valued reply. Rest of the 9 Questions will follow soon, one by one, covering various important issues on the Power Tariff, DISCOMs & DERC.

With best regards,

B S Vohra @RWABhagidari
Social Activist & President,
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation 

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Just Chill Water Park Gift Coupons

Just Chill Water Park Gift Coupons* are available with us for the RWAs of Delhi. These are the Buy one Get one Free Ticket Coupons. If interested, you can collect the Gift Coupons from us. 


















*Subject to Terms & Conditions of Water park company.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

RWA Bhagidari - Free News letter - Subscribe it now !

Free Subscription :
Please log on to the blog www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.in. On the left side there is a button named SUBSCRIBE BLOG. You have to add your e mail ID in that. After subscribing the blog, you will get an automated VERIFICATION  mail to check that it's you, who has subscribed the blog. You have to open that mail & click on the CONFIRMATION Link to start getting our Free News Letter. Therefore, if you have subscribed the blog & not yet getting the regular updates, please log on to the Blog & RE SUBSCRIBE it as above.

If you could forward this message to your friends, so that even they could subscribe it, we will be thankful to you. Please note it's absolutely FREE. Looking forward for your co-operation.

With best regards,

B S Vohra  @RWABhagidari

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

No parking for Visiting RWA & Citizens at the Civic Centre

Sh. Anil Baijal
Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi
Raj Niwas Delhi

Dear Sir

The HQ of the South & North Delhi Municipal Corporation that houses the offices of the SDMC& NDMC at Civic Centre has made no provisions for parking for the Public

Sir, you will appreciate that the RWA & public usually approach the council due to problems relating to deficiency in municipal services.

There is no provision for public parking as all parking within the building has been reserved for your officers and other functionaries of the corporation

This is regrettable and highly disappointing, that the municipal corporation treats the taxpayer as well as the citizen of Delhi with such callous disdain. This insensitivity to the visitor and grievance holder is appalling as the civic centre constructed with Public funds has parking which has been appropriated solely for the convenience of officers

We would also like to say that the excuses made about security, to explain away this behaviour, are completely misplaced, as security to scan vehicles is fully available as cars are parked in Malls and hotels too

We request you to look into this utterly people unfriendly process and ensure that parking is provided for citizens who visit the SDMC & NDMC HQ

BCC: All RWA

Sincerely
Ashutosh Dikshit
URJA

DISCOMs Loss ?

Sir,  
Read your article on demand of power company to increase the power rate due to loss. Who will bear the expenses for massive power theft in East & outer Delhi and who will bear the loss at many places street light is on for twenty four hours. 
Chander Mohan