leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said on Thursday that due to careless attitude of the Delhi Government and the Delhi Electricity Regularity Commission (DERC), the electricity consumers of Delhi now owe Rs 41,419 crore to discoms.
Gupta said each citizen of Delhi has become debtor of discoms to the tune of Rs 20,000. “Due to the critical accumulation of this huge claim of regulatory assets, the discoms are set to claim large increase in power tariff,” he said.
“This situation grew as both the Delhi Government and the DERC failed to develop prudent check system as preserved in the DERC. The discoms have been allowed to accumulate their unilateral claim of increase in cost of power tariff without any counter check by these authorities,” he said.
He added they have failed to ensure that this claim is cross-checked and does not become part of the tariff. “The burden on consumers is going to be all the more
painful because the cost input over the years has come down while consumption has increased,” he said.
“As per Section 6 of the Delhi State Electricity Act (DSEA), the year wise claim of regularity assets are Rs 28,049 crore for the year of 2013-14, Rs 33,082 crore for 2014-15, Rs 36,505 crore 2015-16, Rs 41,419 crore 2016-17. The accumulated amount created over the years without any check has now become recoverable from consumers for no fault of their own,” Gupta said.
He added the DERC is incapable to check the discoms as it lacks of strength at the apex level and Delhi Government has neither expertise nor inclination to check the discoms.
“In such circumstances, consumer is the victim,” he said. Gupta expressed concern at the way the Delhi Government has failed to put pressure of action on CAG report.