launching one-time power amnesty scheme in east Delhi’s Vinod Nagar on Sunday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the private power companies of supplying costly electricity in Delhi and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to let his Government scrap previous power purchasing agreements to bring the cost down.
“If this permission is given, then the electricity tariff in Delhi will further come down,” CM Kejriwal said. Claiming that cheaper power was available, Kejriwal said the power tariff was high as Delhi was buying more than half its electricity needs at Rs5.50 a unit.
“We have come to know that many power companies are ready to supply power at Rs2.5 to Rs3 per unit. When we can get electricity at this rate, why should we buy it for Rs.5 or Rs5.50 a unitIJ” he asked.
“When we examined the issue, we realised that the previous Government had entered into agreements valid for 30 years. The power companies now tell us that since these agreements are in place, you will have to buy power from us. The companies are pressurising us. Why should people sufferIJ” asked Kejriwal.
A preliminary report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which stated that the capital’s three power discoms showed inflated losses, has given a shot in the arm for the AAP Government which has accused these firms of fudging their account books.
Besides, CM Kejriwal urged power discoms to ensure that their employees do not issue inflated bills to the people. Also, he declared that power companies would be fined if they cut electricity for more than one hour.
The power amnesty scheme is for those who have complained of inflated bills, tampered billing meters and the ones who had unauthorised connections. The one-month scheme will benefit about 2.5 lakh households, Kejriwal said.
“I feel no scheme can be better than this. No matter how old the dispute is, those living in jhuggis (slum) can pay Rs250 to settle it,” he said.
Under the scheme, consumers residing in JJ clusters who could not pay their dues in the past will be charged Rs250 per month for the period for which they have not paid the dues. The late payment surcharge (i.e. interest) will be fully waived off and the dues can be paid in six monthly installments, said Power Minister Satyendra Jain.
He said any consumer booked for direct theft of meter tampering with a sanctioned load upto 11 kW will be allowed waiver of 100 per cent on late payment surcharge and two-third of the balance outstanding if they pay the total amount in one go.
“Otherwise, 60 per cent of the outstanding balance will be waived and balance outstanding to be paid in four monthly installments,” said a statement issued by the Government.
The one-time electricity bill settlement scheme will remain effective till September 30 and will be implemented by discoms by way of organising special camps in association with the respective MlAs of the areas.
