Power consumers’ forums filed a petition before the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) on Wednesday alleging that the power distribution companies (discoms) have contravened the High Court’s directive.
Keonjhar Navanirman Parishad secretary and lawyer Dilip Kumar Mohapatra, the Electricity Consumers’ Association of Odisha and the State Electricity Consumers’ Association opposed the proposed power tariff hike for 2015-16 by the discoms, Cesu, Nesco, Wesco and Southco.
The petitioners alleged that the proposed power tariff hike is in contravention of law as the discoms have not complied with the directives of the Odisha High Court and the OERC.
As per rules, the books of accounts of the discoms are supposed to be audited before power tariff hike. However, the accounts for 2013-14 and 2014-15 have not yet been audited and, thus, do not reflect the financial health of the companies, the petitioner alleged.
The discoms have not met the terms -- capacity expansion, minimising transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, providing quality services to its consumers -- set by the OERC from 2008-09 to 20014-15. Besides, they have not furnished the details of the extent of gap between revenue collection and bills payable in the last five years. In addition, they have not substantiated the reason for proposed power tariff hike, they pointed out.
Similarly, as the companies have not taken steps towards minimising various losses and illegally implemented BOOT model, their proposal for power tariff hike should be rejected, the petitioner have pleaded.