Power tariff set for a hike, AAP blames Centre

While power minister Atishi blamed the Centre for increase in rates, Opposition BJP accused Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of “nourishing” private discoms by paying subsidies “without cross-checking them”.

Atishi said that people who do no get the subsidy will end up paying around 8% more as surcharge. “I want to tell the people that this increase is because of the Centre. The Power Purchase Agreement Cost (PPAC) is fixed for a period of 10 years.

An assessment is carried out every 6 months and the power companies are allowed to increase or decrease surcharge accordingly. Why is the cost of power increasing today?,” she said. “Because of mismanagement by the Centre, the cost of coal has risen…The Centre has forced companies to buy imported coal, which has led to an increase in rates,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said a delegation from its Delhi unit would soon call on the new DERC Chairman, Justice (Retd.) Umesh Kumar of Allahabad High Court, to demand the withdrawal of the decision on power tariff hike. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said a DERC member appointed by the AAP government had, on June 22, ordered the tariff hike on the “demand of private companies” even as the new chairperson was notified by the President.

Northeast Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said the party would hit the streets over the coming days if the increase in PPAC was not rolled back.

PPAC, according to officials, is a surcharge provided by the regulatory commission to meet the variation in the cost of purchasing coal power by discoms.

A Delhi government official said that consumers who use upto 200 units of electricity will continue to get zero bills. “There is no change in the scheme. Irrespective of the hike, the government will continue to bear the charges as it has been over the years,” the official said.