Tripathi bats for discoms on hike
With private power discoms demanding another hike in tariff, Delhi chief secretary P.K. Tripathi on Saturday appeared sympathetic to their demands and said power regulator DERC should look into the issue so that the companies could sustain operations.
Replying to questions on financial difficulties being reported by private discoms, Mr Tripathi said the companies must be given “correct tariff” and criticised DERC for not heeding to demand for hike in rates.
“The power problem in Delhi is not because of the government but due to the failure of the regulator. The regulator wants to lower the tariff. We are facing a crisis as the tariff has not been raised,” he said.
The DERC last week had served notices on Reliance Infrastructure-backed discoms BYPL and BRPL asking why their licenses should not be suspended for failing to pay dues to generation and transmission companies. The DERC served notices following a communication from the government asking it to take urgent steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply as generation and transmission companies had threatened to stop supply to the discoms as they owe around `3,000 crores to them. “Definitely, they (DERC) are responsible. If you don’t give the correct tariff, how will the industry run? Then you have to borrow, if anybody borrows, you have to pay interest. If you pay interest, ultimately, it is passed on to the consumer. It is a cycle,” Mr Tripathi said.
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