Wednesday, September 5, 2012

RWAs for you !

बिजली के बिलों ने उपभोक्ताओं की नींद उड़ाई



नई दिल्ली (एसएनबी)। इस साल एक जुलाई से नया टैरिफ लागू होने के बाद बढ़ी दरों के हिसाब से आए दो माह के बिजली बिल ने राजधानी के उपभोक्ताओं की नींद उड़ा दी है। आलम यह है कि जिन उपभोक्ताओं का जुलाई से पहले दो माह का बिजली बिल 1000 रुपए के करीब आता था, उनका इस बार 2000 हजार रुपए से भी ज्यादा का बिल आया है। उपभोक्ताओं का कहना है कि बिजली कंपनियों के हित में डीईआरसी की नई पॉलिसी का नतीजा हैं ये भारी बिल। डीईआरसी ने वर्ष 2012-13 के लिए नई बिजली दरें 1 जुलाई को लागू की थीं। नए टैरिफ में 0 से 200 यूनिट तक बिजली खर्च करने वाले उपभोक्ताओं को प्रति यूनिट एक रुपए की सब्सिडी दिल्ली सरकार देती है। 200 यूनिट तक खर्च करने वालों के लिए प्रति यूनिट कीमत 3.70 पैसे है। इसमें 1 रुपए की सब्सिडी मिलती है और कंस्यूमर्स को प्रति यूनिट 2.70 पैसे पड़ता है। लेकिन जैसे ही यूनिट्स 200 से बढ़कर 201 होती है, उपभोक्ता छूट से वंचित हो जाता है और वह 200 से 400 के स्लैब में आ जाता है और उसे प्रति यूनिट 4.80 पैसे की दर से बिल का भुगतान करना पड़ता है। जबकि पहले यदि किसी उपभोक्ता की दो माह में 250 यूनिट्स उठती थी, तो पहले 200 यूनिट्स पर उसे छूट का लाभ मिलता था और अगले 50 यूनिट्स के लिए नेक्स्ट स्लैब की दरों के हिसाब से चार्ज किया जाता था। लेकिन अब 201 यूनिट्स होते ही नेक्स्ट यानी 200 से 400 के स्लैब की दरों के हिसाब से हर यूनिट का चार्ज वसूला जाता है और इसी वजह से इस बार उपभोक्ताओं का भारी बिल आया है। डीईआरसी की इस नई पालिसी से उपभोक्ताओं पर बिजली दरों का अधिभार 100 से 125 पर्सेट तक बढ़ गया है। परेशान उपभोक्ताओं ने बढ़े बिलों की शिकायत डीईआरसी अध्यक्ष से लेकर दिल्ली की मुख्यमंत्री तक से की है। उपभोक्ताओं का कहना है कि वह पहले से ही तेज भागते और रिवर्स मीटर की समस्या के कारण बढ़े बिलों से परेशान थे, अब डीईआरसी की नई पालिसी के कारण उनका और भी बुरा हाल हो गया है। बी-108, पटेल गार्डन निवासी सीमा यादव ने बताया कि मई 2012 तक उनका बिजली का बिल 600 से 800 रुपए आता था, लेकिन नया टैरिफ लागू होने के बाद अगस्त माह के मध्य में आया जून और जुलाई का बिल 2500 रुपए से ज्यादा का है। उन्होंने कहा कि इस बिल की शिकायत उन्होंने डीईआरसी से लेकर दिल्ली सरकार के जन शिकायत प्रकोष्ठ तक में की, लेकिन कोई परिणाम नहीं निकला। उन्होंने कहा कि पानी और बिजली का बिल इतना बढ़ गया है कि घर चलाना मुश्किल हो गया है। न्यू अशोक नगर निवासी मनीष कुमार ने बताया कि उनका बिजली बिल इस साल मई जून माह में, जब भयंकर गर्मी होती है, 1000 रुपए के करीब आया था। लेकिन अगस्त माह में जो बिल आया है, वह दो गुना से भी अधिक है। बिजली बिल के इतना अधिक आ जाने के कारण घर का बजट बिगड़ गया। उन्होंने कहा कि घर में एसी न होने के बाद भी इतना बिल आना आश्चर्यजनक है। फ्रेंड्स कालोनी निवासी हरेंद्र कुमार ने बताया कि घर में दो एसी लगे होने के कारण जुलाई से पहले बिजली बिल 5000 से 7000 रुपए के करीब आता था, लेकिन अगस्त माह में आया बिजली का बिल 12000 हजार के आंकड़े को पार कर गया है। उन्होंने कहा कि अब तो एसी चलाना मुश्किल हो गया है। उधर, बिजली वितरण कंपनी के प्रवक्ता ने बताया कि इसमें बिजली वितरण कंपनियों का दोष नहीं है। टैरिफ का निर्धारण डीईआरसी ने किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि गर्मियों और वष्रा के मौसम में बिजली की खपत बढ़ती है, ऐसे में बिल भी ज्यादा आता है। उन्होंने कहा कि अक्टूबर माह से बिजली की खपत कम होनी शुरू हो जाएगी और बिल भी कम आएगा। क्या कहते हैं डीईआरसी अध्यक्ष : डीईआरसी के अध्यक्ष पीडी सुधाकर ने बताया कि बिजली दरों का निर्णय लीगल निर्णय है। अगर किसी को शिकायत है तो वह याचिका दायर करे। उन्होंने कहा कि अगर किसी को मीटर से शिकायत है तो वह अपने मीटर की जांच करा ले। बढ़े बिलों के विरोध में सीईआरसी का दरवाजा खटखटाया : पूर्वी दिल्ली ज्वाइंट फोरम के अध्यक्ष बीएस वोहरा ने सेंट्रल इलेक्ट्रिसिटी रेगुलेटरी कमीशन (सीईआरसी) में बढ़ी बिजली दरों के खिलाफ वाद दायर किया है। याचिकाकर्ता वोहरा ने बताया कि बिजली की बढ़ी दरों से आम आदमी पर भार पड़ा है। उन्होंने कहा कि जिन बिजली कंपनियों ने डीईआरसी को राजस्व वसूली कम बताई है अथवा बिजली चोरी के कारण घाटे की बात कही है, उनके इस संदर्भ में दिए साक्ष्य गलत हैं। अप्रैल माह में इन्हीं कंपनियों ने बिजली की अधिक खरीद और मई माह में कम खपत की बात कही थी। जिन उपभोक्ताओं का मई जून का बिल 600 से 800 रुपए तक आया था, उनका जुलाई-अगस्त का बिल 2000 को पार कर गया है 200 से एक यूनिट भी ऊपर बढ़ते ही बिल में 4.80 पैसे प्रति यूनिट चार्ज किया गया है

with thanks : Rashtriya Sahara

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

CERC Public notice in Times of India dated 28.8.12 for public hearing on 4th september.

Secretary,
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission,
New delhi - 110001

Sub. : Public notice in Times of India dated 28.8.12 for public hearing on 4th september.

Dear Sir,

I had mailed you a letter on 2nd of July, 2012, as below. As i got no reply from you, i hereby request you to please consider that letter for todays public hearing, as below :
2nd July, 2012

Mr Rajiv Bansal,
Secretary,
Central Electricity Regulatory Commission,
Chanderlok Building, 36, Janpath,
New delhi - 110001


Subject Power Tariff in Delhi

Dear Sir,

Home

It was observed from the site of NHPC that they are the proud earners of NET PROFIT AFTER TAX of Rs. 2,771.77 crores on the Registered Turnover of Rs. 5,509.65 crores. It clearly means that the company is earning a net profit after tax of more than 100% of its cost.

My question on the Rajya Sabha TV on 28th June was that why these Govt companies are earning such a big profit & if ministry could control / limit the profits, the POWER TARIFF in Delhi & rest of India can be curtailed to a greater extent. 
But i was told on the national channel that Power Tariff is decided by CERC & whatever i asked is valid & can be done but CERC has no provisions. Link of the programme on RSTV is as below :


May i ask from you that why can't CERC look into such a big issue, as in case the Power tariff is reduced, the country can achieve milestones of success.

Your reply in this regard is being awaited. Meanwhile, please view the link of the RSTV as mentioned above.

thanks

B S Vohra
President
East Delhi RWAs Joint Front
( A Federation of RWAs )

CERC Public Hearing on 4th Sept. 2012, 2:30 pm ....... its time to Regulate the Regulator

To
The Secretary,
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission,
New Delhi – 110 001
Sub: Public Notice in TOI 28-08-2012 - Draft CERC (Terms and Conditions of Tariff) Regulations, 2012 and CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2012.

Sir,

There is an urgent need for Regulating the Regulator …….. Can India's electricity regulators successfully play the role that was envisaged for them?

We the citizens are supposed to be the Eyes and Ears and the Regulators the Voice to Protect Consumer Rights. When electricity regulators were first set up in the early years of the last decade, they were seen as reform agents. Today some of them are becoming a Front ….. a Facade to show to the public that the Government is maintaining Transparency in Tariff Determination and for other Policy Initiatives …… the Ground reality is far from this ….

We the Petitioners on behalf of Power Consumers have a different take on DERCs functioning. We have reasons to believe that over time DERC has been consumed by the bane of the Indian System called Political Interference, DERC has been working for the un-holy nexus of the Government and Private Enterprises to fleece consumers and to give maximum profits to the Private DISCOMS.

The raising of tariffs, and that too in stiff doses over the past ten months, points beyond the tariff hikes, the manner in which DERC has been taking Cues from Delhi Chief Minister’s Statements and throwing reasoned facts placed before it to the wind and increasing Tariffs on arbitrary figures put forth by DISCOMS, points towards corrosion in the regulator's functioning.
I substantiate my accusations and request you to treat this as a Positive Feedback to put the Regulatory Process back on track, lest this malaise spreads to other Regulatory Bodies and put a Permanent QUESTION MARK on their Credibility.

The Commission should issue directive within the parameters of Section 61 of the Electricity Act, 2003 which stipulates that the Commission shall be guided by the factors which would encourage competition, efficiency, economical usage of resources, grid performance and optimum investment in specifying the terms and conditions for determination of tariff.

Therefore, to ensure proper accounting, audit and efficient performance to optimize resource use, the Commission should look into the following aspects:

1. Credible Auditing Procedures: As electricity business comes under the preview of Electricity Act, 2003, the accounts pertaining to electricity are required to be prepared separately and got audited. The accounts of the licensee need to be prepared on commercial principles. DERC in its admission to Delhi High Court stated that they have no expertise in auditing the Voluminous Data provided by DISCOMS so how did they come to a precise figure of 21.83% tariff Hike in August 2011?

The petitioners on the other hand have placed before DERC Data that the three DISCOMS in Delhi are in Profits after paying taxes, NDPL- Rs. 351cr, BRPL Rajdhani - Rs. 187cr and Yamuna - Rs. 77cr (year 2009-10). In the absence of proper Auditing Guidelines DERC works on whatever is provided by DISCOMS and we all know how Private Auditors handle records, remember SATYAM.

The Petitioners have demanded a CAG Audit, but it is being stalled for obvious reasons, DERC had approached INSTITUTE OF CHARTARD ACCOIUNTANTS on our request, to Audit DISCOM Financials as also verify the Inventory of what all was handed over to DISCOMS when it changed hands from DVB to Private Operators ……… Nothing seems to have come off it.

When Private operators were handed over charge Delhi showed 65% T&D losses today that figure is 16% and falling ……. Not a single paisa of revenue gain has been passed on to the consumer. Instead in the past 10 years Huge Hikes have been allowed, we fear this system may be replicated as an example all over India where ever Vote Banks do not exist ie Metro Cities, to fleece the over burdened Middle Class.

In terms of the Section 61 (g) of the Act, the Appropriate Commission shall be guided by the objective that the tariff progressively reflects the efficient and prudent cost of supply of electricity. Now what Prudence have we seen in the above style of functioning?

2. Ensure DERC Tariff Orders be placed in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha: Electricity Act 2003, Sec 182, clearly states that Tariff order should be placed for 45 working days in the Vidhan Sabha and passed by the house before it is implemented. In the past ten months two Tariff Orders have been passed, by-passing the laid down procedures in the Electricity Act, 2003.

What is the use of Rules, Regulations and further Amendments if the Powers that be, willfully neglect the Act and brazenly challenge the Petitioners to approach the Courts or go back to Regulators who are any ways Political Appointees.

3. Performance Standards: RWAs have been demanding strict Compliance in the Matching of Neutral to the Absolute Earth Potential as per relevant Act/Code. This alone is the main cause of Fluctuations and Spikes, resulting in damaging expensive household appliances like TV, Fridge, AC etc and unnecessary expenditure on Voltage Stabilizers. Performance Standards pertaining to Stable and uninterrupted 24X7 Power was one of the reason why Privatization was done. Consumers should be compensated for the losses due to Fluctuations and Spikes and be a part of Schedule I of Guaranteed Performance Standards. In the absence of any punitive provisions DISCOMS do not find it important to invest in such infrastructure.

Uninterrupted 24X7 Power Supply has remained a dream that was sold to bring in Private Players. Rampant power cuts are keeping the Inverter Industry alive and the consumer foots the bill for charging and maintaining inverters amounting to average Rs. 1200/- per month. Are these the Performance Standards that were envisaged in the Act to be in place on or before 2007?

4. Conduct Energy Audit: Like Air and Water, Power too is essential for existence. This is not a luxury anymore and high use domestic consumers are already paying higher slab rates. Today citizens have to use power for basic living and also for Government's inefficiency. From motors to draw water to water purifiers ...... from inverters to voltage stabilizers ...... Mosquito repellents all point to unnecessary power consumption due to Govt. Apathy. Computers, Refrigerators, Televisions are as much a part of daily life as Air and Water and cannot be treated as luxuries.

The energy Audit should Revisit Public Service Entitlement Code, Babus went on an overdrive installing AC's in Govt. offices throwing the rule book on entitlement to the wind. Gone are the days when Rs. 20,000/- AC's were needed to protect Rs. 5 lac PC's. Today PC's are more robust and very cheap and do not require Air Conditioning to operate. Remove AC's from offices of those not entitled for the same. Why should the consumer subsidies government officials' fancy life style? Who decides how much power is needed to keep the Govt. cold to people’s miseries?

The Energy Audit should also look into the Energy Guzzlers in Industry, Commercial Establishment, Street Lighting, Neon Signs, Hoardings etc. The industry and Commercial establishments recover the Energy Component from the consumer in the form of the Final Product Cost.

We see no reason that Energy Guzzlers like Government Departments, Hospitals (both Govt. and Private), Private Schools, Corporate Offices, Malls, Banquets, Farm Houses etc. be allowed to burden the Domestic Consumer by way of eating up the Cheap Power Quota Available from NTPC, SEBs etc.

Delink Power consumed by Domestic consumers and let Power Guzzlers buy power from open Market, right now there is no incentive for them to conserve energy as they recover their life style from the cost of their Product or Service.

5. End Monopoly: Open Access was to have been in place by the year 2009, it has remained a Pipe Dream even in Delhi, with Regulators and Government playing in the hands of Private Players.

What’s more the DERC is making some DISCOMSs  permanent fixtures by investing in expensive exercise of Time of Day Metering System and asking these very Private Players to invest and put up equipment to measure Usage Patterns. Once such huge investments are made how will DERC ask them to make way for Open Access Policy?

6. Ensure Transparent Power Purchase Mechanism: The Act provides that the Appropriate Commission may fix the trading margin, if considered necessary. Though there is a need to promote trading in electricity for making the markets competitive, the Appropriate Commission should monitor the trading transactions continuously and ensure that the electricity traders do not indulge in profiteering in situation of power shortages. Fixing of trading margin should be resorted to for achieving this objective.

We have on numerous occasions asked DERC to get DISCOMS to place on the website every fortnight details of Power Purchased, like Quantity, Price, Source etc so that consumers can verify the prevailing competitive costs in the Market. Cartelization has to be stopped and purchases amongst sister concerns have to be discouraged.

7. Fuel Charge Adjustment: This is another head in which Lack of Transparency is working against the Consumers. What is the total component of Fuel Cost in the Production of Power? We believe it is not more than 15%, a little higher in case of inefficient Plants. Now DERC allows 7%-8% as Fuel Charge Adjustment ….. we know now for a Fact that Mr. Manmohan Singh Gifted Coal Blocks for free, we also know that DISCOMS have not been paying their Dues to NTPC and others for the power Purchased (the Govt. had to bail them out with our Rs. 500cr package), so where is the question of Fuel Cost Adjustment and that too, a hefty 50% increase for something they got for free.

8. Fast Running Electronic Meters: It has been noticed the residents are paying 25% to 40% higher bills. Experts have informed us that this is due to the Three Phase with Single Neutral Distribution Transformers, where in the Residual Back Flow gets recorded in the meter reading. The earlier Mechanical Meters did not have the Neutral wire connected to the Meters Recording Mechanism, where as these Electronic Meters have the Neutral attached to the meters Recording Mechanism, which results in recording the Residual Back Flow, therefore INFLATED BILLS.

After three years of sustained efforts this issue was addressed by DERC by inserting an Ad. in news papers in Dec. 2011, putting the onus of correcting the flaw on the consumer. The Supply Code clearly states that it is the Duty of the Service Provider to provide a separate Neutral up to the Metering Point …… no such thing is visible on the Ground and the poorer consumers end up paying inflated bills and DISCOMS earning Huge Unearned Profits.

An Audit/Field Survey by an Independent Institute of Repute involving the Petitioners, should be conducted, transformer wise on Units supplied and billed for the past three years of Peak Load Periods in Winters and Summers. Excess billing if found should be refunded to the consumers and Punitive Penalty imposed on DISCOMS for breach of trust and fleecing the Consumers.

9. Abolish Fixed Charge: The Fixed charge on monthly basis is being levied and recovered from all consumers irrespective of how much Power they consume. We understand that certain fixed costs are involved in bringing electricity to our door step and if some people keep properties locked then a Minimum Charge should be levied. Earlier this was termed as Minimum Charge later very cleverly changed to Fixed Charge and has been increased from Rs. 8/- earlier to Rs.20/- now.

It is to be noted that a consumer is already paying a higher slab rate for higher consumption offsetting the need to charge on the basis of sanctioned load. A One Time Fee for higher load Meters, Wiring and a Security Deposit is already levied. Permitting the DISCOMS to charge Fixed Charge from every consumer on a monthly basis is nothing but charging the consumers twice under two different heads for the same thing.

10.  I endorse all the Points Placed by Mr. Hemanta Sharma in his Suggestions.

These are preliminary submissions, I request you to give me an opportunity to elaborate before a final decision is taken.

Warm Regards,
sd/-


Rajiv Kakria
Chairman, E-Block, GK-I RWA.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Delhi Jal Board - plz answer.

Dear  Mr. Vohra,

In many South Delhi Colonies, Sonia water is being supplied.  For this facility according to the square area of the plot, payment had to be paid in cash. For our building in the Paryavaran Complex,

we paid for  some  Rs 9000+  in the Jal Board Ofice near Quatab Minar against a receipt.  Then we paid  a few hundreds to buy and install the meter with pipe fixtures etc.

The Jal Board frequently sent its inspectors to verify if users of the facility had fixed meters or not.  However,   since April, 2012, when our meter was installed and the facility was availed of, till  date no bill has been sent and I wonder if the Jal Board is wanting to repeat what happened in Noida where huge amounts were  to be paid with retrospective effect.

Looking forward to a reply and while thaking you for the  the services you render,

Prof. Romey Borges Ph.D ( French)

Retd. JNU Professor

Friday, August 31, 2012

DJB water meters : HT Live Delhi east


Old Yamuna Bridge : Hindustan Times


If the Govt. listens RWAs

My dear Vohra:

Appreciate your efforts. If the Govt. listens to RWA and leaves its Vote Bank politics, the fate ofthe city willbe changed.

Sincerely,
S.K. Chandan,
Chairman, 
RWA/B3a Block 
Janakpuri..

fill the pot hole as soon as it develops !

SIR ,Imagine how much time we together waste in traffic jams due to pot holes & stagnated water on roads.With consensus we should have a batalion of our own who can detect & fill the pot holes as soon as it develops.Mostly the stagnant water on the road is not due to overflowing drains but due to the small connecting drain transferring road water into the drain because contract is never given to clean these small narrow connecting drains from road to drain under the footpath.Because these are thin & quantum of water is little in these  drains ,the pressure of water is not so much so as to clear it of mud causing stagnation even if the big drains are patent.
With little devotion of mind to know the actual cause of stagnant water causing damage to road & traffic jam ,can solve the problem for ever & help us in reduction of invisible dangerous pollution ,loss of man power, loss of costly fuel etc due to traffic jams.
Dr VK AGGARWAL
East of Kailash, Delhi

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Meri Delhi - Meri Shaan !

A friend of mine had to catch a flight to CHINA at 6.50 today. We moved by car at around 4.00pm. The rain had just started. But by the time we reached halfway, it was all over. In the Massive water logging, traffic jams every where, my car was just floating in the knee deep water. To cover the rest half of the way, it took so much of our time that we could reach Terminal 3 by 6.10 pm only. By that time, the counter had already closed & none was there to listen or cooperate. The result - he missed the flight. There were many more passengers who suffered the same  for reaching Terminal 3. Though he will get a fresh date soon, but just think of the mental agony we faced for almost 5.30 hours as we could reach our home only after 9.30 pm. And i an writing this at 10.40 pm.  Meri Delhi - Meri Shaan.

B S Vohra

Just viewed the news :

HC asks Delhi govt to form panel on waterlogging

New Delhi: The city government was today directed by the Delhi High Court to form a committee of senior officers to evolve a mechanism for desilting drains to prevent waterlogging during monsoon season.

A division bench of justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Vipin Sanghi said the panel set up by the government should have in it the officers from various authorities including the Public Works Department (PWD), the trifurcated Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), besides the Irrigation Department and other concerned authorities.

The bench directed government's Standing Counsel (Civil) Najmi Waziri to inform it within a week about the structure of the committee and posted the matter for September 5.

The bench also said the government may also include experts from IIT in the committee.

"All the heads of corporations and stake holders, including experts, should be in the committee so that every time people don't have to rush to the court on the issue of waterlogging," the bench said adding "the committee should hold frequent meetings for short term measures to address the problem of waterlogging."

The court, meanwhile, summoned the DJB chief executive officer to appear before it on the next date of hearing as no counsel for the department was present in the case.

The civic body claimed long-term plans were there as per the Master plan 2021 to solve the waterlogging problem.

The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions, including that of NGO Nyaya Bhoomi, for launch of contempt proceedings against various civic body officials for their alleged failure in complying with the court's July 11 order.

The court had directed the officials to take steps to end the problem of waterlogging in the capital within 15 days. 
with thanks : Zee News : LINK : for detailed news.

SC pulls up govt, says your work on Yamuna pollution is ‘casual’

The Supreme Court on Monday sought replies from all authorities concerned in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh regarding “in what form and where they discharged industrial waste and other effluents”. 

“It is a very unhappy state of affairs. It is very unfortunate that such a serious matter about a river is being dealt with such casualness by all authorities of different state governments. You are treating it like a tree and not like a river. Yamuna is polluted to the core now,” said a bench of Justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar. 

Infuriated that all the authorities were engaged only in pushing the burden on each other and filed “vague” affidavits to explain their stands, the bench said that it was giving the last opportunity to the Delhi and UP governments, besides their authorities like Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Noida Authority, to file affidavits in categorical terms to apprise the court if they were dumping effluents in Yamuna and if so, in what form — with or without treatment. 


with thanks : Indian Express : Link : for detailed news.