Power distributing companies owe Rs 4262.49 cr to Orissa govt.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 18 (UNI) Four private power distribution companies in Orissa have to pay pending dues of Rs.4262.49 crores to the state government, according to Orissa Energy Minister S N Patra.

Replying to the question of Congress member L B Mohapatra in the state assembly, Mr.Patra said the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has ordered the recovery of the outstanding dues from the distribution companies in 120 installments from April 2006.

The Energy Minister admitted that the target set by the government to reduce the transmission loss failed due to non-utilisation of funds earmarked to check the transmission and distribution loss in the state.

In another question of Congress member Satya Bhusan Sahu, the Minister said the Central Electricity Supply Company (CESCO) which has been changed to Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) has been making loss after de-privatisation.

The cumulative loss of the CESU in 2003-2004 was Rs.539 crores while in 2004-2005 it sustained a loss of Rs.692.16 crores and Rs.839.07 crores in 2005-2006.

Mr.Patra said the OERC has formulated a scheme called Central Electricity Supply Utility of Orissa (Operation and Management) Scheme 2006 in exercise of power under section 22 of the Electricity Act 2003 to protect the interest of the consumers as well as the public to make the utility commercially viable for future sale.

The Minister in response to another question of Debashish Pattnaik and Naren Palei (Congress) said three Distribution companies namely WESCO, NESCO and SOUTHCO have to pay jointly Rs.2234.19 crore to the GRID Corporation and the government.

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