Delhi's power regulator DERC is considering introduction of a unique metering system for electricity consumption under which there will be different tariff slabs for peak and off peak hours.
In a first of its kind initiative in the country, Delhi's power regulator DERC is considering introduction of a unique metering system for electricity consumption under which there will be different tariff slabs for peak and off peak hours.
The proposed mechanism is being conceived primarily to discourage commercial users from consuming more power during peak hours so that load shedding could be minimised in the residential areas in the peak summer months when the demand goes up substantially.
Known as 'time of day metering' (ToD), a concept borrowed from European countries, the Delhi electricity regulatory is proposing to introduce the system in select areas of the city on an experimental basis and later it may be extended to the entire capital.
The Commission has also issued a public notice asking for views and comments from the residents and experts on the proposal under which higher tariff will be levied for power consumption in peak hours and lower tariff for off peak hours.
"ToD metering could be made applicable for those consumers where there is a possibility of shifting of the load of peak hours to off peak hours," said a DERC official.
If implemented Delhi will be the first state in the country to have such metering system which experts said would benefit everybody including the consumers.
Welcoming the move, Ajay Maharaj, public relation officer of Tata-backed discom NDPL said 'time of day metering' will help the city in overcoming the problem of scarcity of power during peak demand months.
"It will help everybody. It will be beneficial for the consumers as well as the discoms," he said explaining that it will give an opportunity to the consumers to save on their power bills.
An official of the power department said the new mechanism will help the discoms too as they have to procure additional power from the market at very high cost to meet the demand at the peak hours from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.
Maharaj said the discoms will have to upgrade the existing metres to make them compatible to the proposed system so that the metres could record time of the electricity consumption.
Power distribution company BSES has also welcomed the proposal, saying it will be beneficial for all the stake holders.
"It is a welcome move which will benefit all," said a BSES official.
The national capital witnessed massive power cuts last summer forcing the Government to issue stern warning to all the discoms to improve their distribution network. The DERC's move is seen as an effort to improve availability of power during the summer months.
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