Power Minister Piyush Goyal says power tariffs in Delhi will reduce despite increase in rates

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission has announced a 7.5% hike in electricity rates in Delhi. However, the surcharge of 8% has been withdrawn for three months, following which power bills for Delhi consumers will reduce for the time being.

With the electricity situation in Delhi being so dire, the news might bring temporary relief to consumers. With regard to this, Power Minister Piyush Goyal put out the following information on his Facebook page:

State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) and Central Regulatory Commission (CERC) are fully independent and autonomous bodies. The decision to increase electricity tariff in Delhi is a regulatory decision by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on the basis of costing.

As per Hon'ble Delhi High Court judgement in the case of Nand Kishore Garg V/s Govt of NCT & Others Dated 23rd May, 2011 it was held in Para 74(f): "The Commission under the 2003 Act is required to deal with the aspect of tariff determination with intellectual integrity, transparent functionalism and normative objectivity and not act in a manner by which its functioning invite doubt with regard to its credibility”.

For the present, people who consume less than 800 units a month who are under the ambit of three private DisComs (TPDDL, BRPL and BYPL), will actually see a reduction in their electricity bill! This will surely provide some relief to the common man.

Moreover, we will certainly find ways to see how consumers will be given further relief.