Discoms appear before DERC, seek dues from govt

The city’s two main private distribution companies (discoms) on Thursday attended a hearing before the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) over a Delhi government request to cancel their licenses if they failed to prevent blackouts from February 11.

The Delhi government had recommended to the DERC the suspension of licenses of two discoms (BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited) over their financial outstanding to NTPC, which has threatened to stop providing electricity to these companies unless the dues are paid.

The two discoms, during the hearing, also referred to their letters written to the government earlier seeking payment of nearly Rs 440 crore dues - Rs 262 crore from the government and nearly Rs 180 crore from the civic agencies.

The distribution companies also raised the issue of a statutory advice seeking constitution of an empowered committee to discuss the issue of the payment they are supposed to pay to the state government-owned generation company, sources said.
The Delhi government was given time till Saturday to respond to the discom’s request for formation of the committee, sources said.

Sources said the discoms claimed their demand for Rs 262 crore from the Delhi government was linked to its announcement last month to offer subsidy to the consumers for reducing their power bills by half, in case they consumed less than 400 units.

“This payment will help defray power regulations. We have also requested for immediate redressal so that the NTPC can be paid before February 10,” said one of the letter written to the state government.

The two companies also urged the state government to release the nearly Rs 180 crore that the civic agencies owe to them on account of power consumed by street lights and monthly maintenance of these street lights.

The power generation company NTPC has threatened the discoms of disconnecting power supply from February 11, if they do not pay the due about of more than Rs 200 crore.

The state government, however, remained firm on its stand of taking action against the companies in case of power cuts. Representatives of discoms from other states have started meeting the chief minister in case discoms from other states are allowed to set up shop in the capital.