The central discom has started charging power consumers fuel surcharge adjustment (FSA) fees for the fiscal 2009-10. The additional amount works out to 20 to 40 per cent of the total monthly bill.
The Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) has recently revised the FSA after nine years due to a substantial increase in revenue deficit following a rise in power purchase cost, network costs, and the cost of procuring coal and gas (fuel surcharge). The FSA hike accounts for the recovery of Rs 1,400 crore, an amount spent by the state’s discoms for power purchase in 2009-10.
The FSA charge is passed on to consumers when the cost of procuring coal or buying power from other states increases. The hike is effected at a fixed rate approved by the APERC. While domestic consumers using 0-50 units and 51-100 units per month have been kept out of the hike, most domestic consumers in the city come in the category of 100-500 units and are required to pay. In fact, nearly 60 per cent of the total two crore domestic consumers across the state are estimated to be in the user categories of the hiked rate.
The industrial sector, already facing 40 to 50 per cent power cuts, would have to pay the highest: an increase of 87 paise per unit. “Fuel surcharge imposed on consumers is due to a decline in domestic coal quantum, leading to the increased use of the more expensive imported coal as also expensive power purchases due to shortfall in generation,” Hiralal Samariya, CMD, APTransco, said. “Discoms have not passed on to consumers the interest amount already incurred by them,” Mr Samariya stated.