No increase in tariffs, no minimum charges : UERC

Dehra Dun, July 13 (UNI) Uttaranchal Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) today ruled out any increase in tariffs and abolished minimum charges for all consumers, UERC Chairman Divakar Dev said here today.

''The revised tariffs will be effective from April 1, 2006,'' said Mr Dev informing about the decision taken by the commission.

He told reporters that the commission has declined proposal of Uttaranchal Jal Vidhyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL), Power Transmission Corporation Ltd, Uttaranchal (PTCUL) and Uttaranchal Power Corporation Ltd, (UPCL) for increasing tariffs ranging from Rs 0.50 to Rs 1.10 for domestic consumer and Rs 1.02 for industrial consumers.

In accordance to the proposal of UPCL and the State Governement, the commission has accepted to make effective tariff for steel units equal to that of HT Industries. The commission has also abolished minimum charges for all the consumers.

'' Now the billing will be done according to the amount of electricity consumed by the consumer,'' Mr Dev said, adding when the actual meter reading is not available the consumer will be billed on the basis of his average consumption in three billing cycles just before the meter became defective.

Taking into consideration the delay in distribution of bills, consumers would be given grace period of 15 days after the due date printed on the bill. To help the power system in the state in reducing demand for water heating during morning hours in winter months, the commission has enhanced the existing rebate by Rs 25 per month and linked it with the capacity of the system.'' The rebate will now be available to all consumers at the rate of Rs 75 per each 100 litres capacity,'' he said.

Mr Dev informed that the investigation conducted by the commission has revealed surplus amount of Rs 755.53 crore recovered by the UPCL. '' Out of this amount the commission has asked to transfer Rs 654.94 crore to the Network Development Fund (NDF) along with interest thereon,'' he said, adding on the balance amount of Rs 100.62 crore, the Commission would take a view after disposal of UJVNL's appeal pending before the Appelate Tribunal.

Till the process of transfer is completed, interest on the unpaid amount would be recovered at the rate of 15 per cent per annum and the same would be passed to consumers through tariffs. ''The NDF would be used for leveraging fresh investments for upgrading and strenghthening the distribution network,'' he said.

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