Opposing the demand for a hike in power tariff for different categories of consumers, the UP Power Consumers Forum has demanded the power regulator to slash the tariff for domestic consumers by 10 to 12 per cent.
The Forum demanded a 25 percent reduction in tariff for the farmers of Bundelkhand and 50 drought -hit districts.
The Forum has filed its objections against the annual revenue requirement statement for 2016-17 seeking hike in power tariff filed by UP Power Corporation limited (UPPCl) before the regulator - UP State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
"Power consumers should not be penalised for rampant inefficiency and corruption in the UPPCl. Despite financial restructuring programme in 2013-14, the losses of the Corporation has risen to over Rs 70,000 crore in 2014-15 from 33,600 crore in 2012,’’ said the Forum in its objection.
Before issuing the tariff order for 2016-17, the UPERC will hold a public hearing in different cities of the state in May, inviting claims and objections from all stakeholders on the demand for hike in the tariff as demanded by the power utility.
The Forum has also demanded a concession of two per cent to all domestic consumers, who have not defaulted in payment of bills and have been regular in payments.
The Forum in its objections to the ARR filed by treh UPPCl before the UPERC, demanded that the the fixed charge and regulatory surcharge levied on domestic consumers be abolished and the new tariff for farmers of Bundelkhand region be declared null and void. An office bearer of the Forum said that they will fight for reduction in tariff for farmers and rural consumers.
The Forum said the number of slabs for determining tariff for domestic consumers be reduced. "The old tariff of Rs 4.40 per unit upto 300 units / month and tariff of Rs 5 per unit against the present Rs 5.60 per unit for consuming 500 units per month be restored. For those consuming morethan 500 units / month, the tariff be reduced from Rs 6.20 to Rs 5.50 per unit. We also demand a reduction of 10 per cent in tariff for BPl category domestic consumers," said the office bearer.
The Forum also questioned the wisdom of UPPCl in purchasing power at exorbitant rates of Rs 6.82 per unit from Bajaj thermal power plant in lalitpur and Rs 5.50 per unit from Roja power plant of Reliance Energy in Shahjahanpur.