Acting tough against the power discoms, the Delhi Government on Monday asked the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to revoke licences of BSES Rajdhani and Yamuna Power limited if they fail to provide electricity to consumers.
Offering to take over the functioning of the distribution companies, the Government also suggested appointing its own officials as ‘administrative officers’ for the utilities.
On Monday, Delhi’s Power Secretary, Puneet Goel wrote a letter to DERC chairman,
PD Sudhakar. Goel in his letter said that the BSES discoms have claimed ‘inadequate funds’ as the reason for inability to pay State-owned NTPC ltd for electricity, increasing the prospect of a blackout, and that this “calls for revocation of their licenses by DERC under Section 19 (d) of the Electricity Act, 2003.”
“This is a serious matter. It is requested that it may definitely be found out from the two discoms (BRPl & BYPl) in the next two or three days as to whether they are going to stop a substantial part of the supply of power to the consumers of Delhi beyond 10th February, 2014,” read his letter. While Goel declined to comment, Sudhakar said, “We will take appropriate action on the communication. We will have to go through it.”
Going a step further, the government has also prepared an action plan in case the licenses are withdrawn. “Extensive blackouts in the Capital city of the country due to financial difficulties of these two discoms are not acceptable. In the event suspension of licences becomes necessary in the near future, suitable officers will have to be appointed as Administrative Officers of BSES discoms,” Goel said. The Secretary also mentioned that some subsidy amounts are due to the discoms from the Government which shall be cleared by February 15.
The Government has also directed to begin the process of identifying the ‘administrative officers’ in consultation with the chief secretary. “It is requested that officers who could be appointed as administrative officers of discoms may be immediately identified in consultation with the chief secretary, so that if need be, immediate action is possible and the consumers and Government of Delhi are not caught napping,” read the letter. BRPl and BYPl have claimed that they do not have adequate funds because of which they have been unable to pay NTPC for purchase of power. NTPC, which is a major supplier of power to them, is maintaining that it shall not be able to supply power beyond February 10 unless payment for the purchase of power is forthcoming.