The Gridco is currently reassessing power dues of two companies, the Nalco and the Imfa, on the direction of the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) after the two firms did not agree to the outstanding amounts claimed by the former.
Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das informed this in the State Assembly on Tuesday in response to a joint question of BJD MlA Debashis Nayak and Congress MlA Taraprasad Bahinipati.
According to the information furnished by the Minister, the National Aluminium Company (Nalco) had to pay electricity tariff of `22,84, 91,352 to the Gridco by end of 2013-14 financial year. But it didn’t agree with the outstanding amount and filed a petition at the OERC for reconsideration. The OERC conducting a hearing on the case directed to the Gridco to reassess the power tariff of the Central PSU.
Accordingly, the Gridco is currently reassessing the electricity dues of the Nalco now.
Similarly, the Imfa had to pay `183.97 crore towards power tariff incurred between December 1994 and November 2004. As a dispute erupted between the Gridco and the Imfa over this, the OERC constituted an Arbitration Tribunal to resolve the issue. The tribunal directed the Imfa to pay `57.70 lakh towards power tariff and expenditure incurred on arbitration. It had also directed the company to pay 15 per cent interest on the outstanding on failing of payment.
later, the Gridco filed a case in the Khordha District Judge Court against the decision of the Arbitrator. Now this case is sub-judice and the court has issued an interim stay order in favour of the Gridco. The Gridco is also reassessing the power dues of Imfa now, informed the Minister.
Besides, a host of companies owe power tariff over `10 lakh each, the Minister said.