While Kejri seeks l-G intervention in power plight
Unfazed by the Delhi Government approaching DERC for suspension of their licences, the Reliance-owned discoms — BRPl and BYPl — have sought clearance of its subsidy dues by the Government and timely implementation of power purchase adjustment cost. At the same time, the BSES also criticised the power regulator for its losses saying it failed to provide appropriate tariffs in order to cover increase in power purchase costs.
In a meeting with the DERC on Tuesday, the two companies said these issues needed to be resolved to recover their huge monetary losses failing which it was difficult to ensure regular power supply.
“We called officials of BRPl and BYPl to officially apprise them of the letter given to us by the Delhi Government. We had asked them to give their stand on the issue and their plan on power distribution in the coming days. The matter is still under examination,” said PD Sudhakar, chairman DERC. The power regulator is likely to take two more days to finally come up with a concrete solution to the issue. However, sources said, when asked about curbing power supply to consumers, the discoms instead sought repayment of subsidy dues to them. Calling the tariff order rolled out by the DERC as ‘non reflective’ the two power utilities asked it to ensure timely adjustments of the quarterly power purchase cost in the bills. In its letter written to the power regulator on Monday, the government had stated that it would clear subsidy dues by February 15.
Meanwhile, reacting to the Government’s suggestion of suspending or revoking their licences on failing to supply power to Delhiites, the discoms on Tuesday called the move as ‘arbitrary’ and ‘illegal’. “As legally advised, the proposed cancellation of licenses in this situation is arbitrary and illegal. The Government has refused for the past 60 days to appoint its nominees to the Committee directed to be formed by DERC, to examine the precarious cashflow situation and take remedial measures,” said a BSES spokesperson.
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal apprised lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung about the letter the power department had sent to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission regarding cancellation or suspension of the discoms’ licences. In his letter to the l-G, Kejriwal wrote, “I am bringing this most serious matter to your notice as the Government itself may have to step in at some stage, to control the ugly situation which maybe created by the three private discoms.”