The Odisha Rajya Bidyut Upavokta Mahasangh on Monday opposed the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (OERC) move to hike electricity tariff and demanded audit of different distribution companies (discoms) by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Mahasangha president Panchanan Kanungo told mediapersons here that attempts are being made by the OERC to hike the electricity tariff with a view to only adjusting the losses of the different distribution companies in 2014-15. “Customer orientations of distribution companies have not been ensured by the OERC, which is regularly increasing the tariff while quality of service is poor as evident from fluctuation, low voltage, unannounced and unscheduled interruptions,” said Kanungo.
He further stated that while consumers are paying electricity tariff at preserved rate, the distribution utilities have failed to pay the penalties for failures and deficiencies in terms of system average intimation frequency level. Mahasangha secretary Rabi Behera informed that a delegation of the Mahasanga met the Energy Minister recently and expressed its concern over the unreasonable tariff rate for different categories of consumers.
“Our demand is to ensure quality power, no further hike in tariff and audit of all distribution companies by the CAG. We urge the Government to take up the issues at the earliest, failing which a mass movement will be carried out across the State,” said Behera. Former MlA Narayan Reddy and Congress spokesperson Sulochana Das were also present at the Press conference.