Proposed power tariff hike rolled back in Delhi

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) made a surprise but welcome U-turn within 24 hours, rolling back a proposed tariff hike, sparking a virtual war between political parties to take credit for the relief to the consumers in the poll-bound city.

On Thursday evening, the power regulator allowed a hike in the power tariff on the basis of reintroduction of the power purchase adjustment cost surcharge to effect an increase of tariff by up to 7 per cent from Saturday.

Announcing the rollback on Friday afternoon, DERC chairman P D Sudhakar said the issue would be looked afresh as some details provided by the National Thermal Power Corporation could not be considered properly.

He said the corporation had earlier not provided complete information on the power generation cost charged by it from the power distribution companies—a key component influencing tariff hike.

Sudhakar said a new order would be issued. Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay thanked the regulator for withdrawing the tariff hike order in public interest. “We requested the DERC to reconsider the hike, which was anti-people and would have burdened them,” he said.  
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress slammed the BJP government at the Centre for “arm-twisting” the autonomous regulator.

AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said: “The rollback was made under our pressure.” He said the saffron party got scared of the political implications of the hike.

The party’s Delhi unit convenor Ashutosh said: “We will cut the electricity tariff by half if we come to power.”

Adding to the outrage, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesman Mukesh Sharma went on a hunger strike demanding withdrawal of the hike. “I will continue the sit-in till the actual tariff hike withdrawal order is issued by the DERC,” he said.