New Delhi, Electricity bills of domestic consumers in Delhi have increased by 6-8 per cent due to the revision of power purchase adjustment charge (PPAC) by discoms, although those receiving the subsidy will not be affected, officials said Wednesday. .
The BJP lashed out at the AAP government over the hike, alleging that it had been colluding in the problems, while Delhi power minister and AAP leader Atishi accused the opposition party of misleading people by spreading "rumors" that electricity prices had increased due to the PPAC.
The problems in the city have revised the PPAC in the range of 6.75 to 8.75 percent. The cost of purchasing power depends on the prices of coal and other fuels used by generating companies and these prices recently saw a significant increase, officials said.
Officials said the PPAC review was implemented from February this year.
On Wednesday, the BJP held a press conference on the issue and attacked the ruling AAP in Delhi, saying it would affect the city's power consumers.
There was no response from the dissenters: BYPL and BRPL of BSES, TPDDL and NDMC, on the revision of the PPAC.
The PPAC is charged as a percentage of the base rate that includes the fixed cost and energy charges (units consumed) by consumers.
Atishi stated that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) order states that the current PPAC will remain the same and no further changes will be made.
She, however, justified the review of the PPAC, saying that the problems have "a provision in the Electricity Act, 2003 that allows them to increase the PPAC by up to 10 percent over that prescribed by the DERC in case of a high energy purchase cost".
Power is purchased from Electricity Exchange during summers to meet higher demand and provide 24/7 power and hence PPAC could be higher in summers especially due to waves of heat.
Officials said that, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Energy (MOP), each state regulatory commission must place a mechanism for the automatic transfer of fuel and energy procurement costs in tariffs to ensure the viability of the electricity sector.
In case of Delhi, there is no automatic transfer but the nuisance charges PPAC only after verification and approval by DERC. It is reviewed quarterly, officials said.
Delhi BJP leaders alleged that issues "backed" by the AAP government were making consumers pay hefty sums in the name of the PPAC.
"The Delhi government and the rioters have colluded to increase the PPAC by 8.75 per cent, resulting in higher electricity bills for consumers," alleged Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.
The Delhi government provides free electricity to consumers using up to 200 units per month. A fifty percent subsidy is granted to those who have a monthly consumption of 201 to 400 units.
No subsidy is granted for monthly consumption of more than 400 units.
"If the government had purchased power from the grid before April, then prices would not have increased, but the Kejriwal government was busy with politics when it came time to draw up a summer power supply plan," he said. Sachdeva.
BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely said electricity bills have increased not only due to higher consumption in summer but mainly due to PPAC.
Citing his electricity bill, Lovely said that more than Rs 4,000 has been added from PPAC, which will increase further from this month.
Atishi hit back at the BJP alleging that electricity rates in states ruled by him were high and there were also power cuts of up to eight hours even in cities like Noida and Greater Noida in UP and Gurugram in Haryana.
He claimed that Delhi, under the Kejriwal government, was providing free electricity to the people without cuts.
The BJP lashed out at the AAP government over the hike, alleging that it had been colluding in the problems, while Delhi power minister and AAP leader Atishi accused the opposition party of misleading people by spreading "rumors" that electricity prices had increased due to the PPAC.
The problems in the city have revised the PPAC in the range of 6.75 to 8.75 percent. The cost of purchasing power depends on the prices of coal and other fuels used by generating companies and these prices recently saw a significant increase, officials said.
Officials said the PPAC review was implemented from February this year.
On Wednesday, the BJP held a press conference on the issue and attacked the ruling AAP in Delhi, saying it would affect the city's power consumers.
There was no response from the dissenters: BYPL and BRPL of BSES, TPDDL and NDMC, on the revision of the PPAC.
The PPAC is charged as a percentage of the base rate that includes the fixed cost and energy charges (units consumed) by consumers.
Atishi stated that the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) order states that the current PPAC will remain the same and no further changes will be made.
She, however, justified the review of the PPAC, saying that the problems have "a provision in the Electricity Act, 2003 that allows them to increase the PPAC by up to 10 percent over that prescribed by the DERC in case of a high energy purchase cost".
Power is purchased from Electricity Exchange during summers to meet higher demand and provide 24/7 power and hence PPAC could be higher in summers especially due to waves of heat.
Officials said that, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Energy (MOP), each state regulatory commission must place a mechanism for the automatic transfer of fuel and energy procurement costs in tariffs to ensure the viability of the electricity sector.
In case of Delhi, there is no automatic transfer but the nuisance charges PPAC only after verification and approval by DERC. It is reviewed quarterly, officials said.
Delhi BJP leaders alleged that issues "backed" by the AAP government were making consumers pay hefty sums in the name of the PPAC.
"The Delhi government and the rioters have colluded to increase the PPAC by 8.75 per cent, resulting in higher electricity bills for consumers," alleged Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.
The Delhi government provides free electricity to consumers using up to 200 units per month. A fifty percent subsidy is granted to those who have a monthly consumption of 201 to 400 units.
No subsidy is granted for monthly consumption of more than 400 units.
"If the government had purchased power from the grid before April, then prices would not have increased, but the Kejriwal government was busy with politics when it came time to draw up a summer power supply plan," he said. Sachdeva.
BJP leader Arvinder Singh Lovely said electricity bills have increased not only due to higher consumption in summer but mainly due to PPAC.
Citing his electricity bill, Lovely said that more than Rs 4,000 has been added from PPAC, which will increase further from this month.
Atishi hit back at the BJP alleging that electricity rates in states ruled by him were high and there were also power cuts of up to eight hours even in cities like Noida and Greater Noida in UP and Gurugram in Haryana.
He claimed that Delhi, under the Kejriwal government, was providing free electricity to the people without cuts.
