Seeking a hike of around 8% in power tariff, four power distribution utilities of the state government have approached the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC).
Seeking a hike of around 8% in power tariff, four power distribution utilities of the state government have approached the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC).
If GERC accepts their proposals, it will lead to an additional burden of Rs1,322 crore on power consumers in the state in the current year.
The four companies - Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL), Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL) and Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) - submitted their Multi Year Tariff (MYT) petitions for FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16 before the GERC on May 12.
The companies have proposed a revision of 25 paise per unit in power tariff across all categories of consumers except agriculture and BPL (1 - 30 units), according to the petitions.
The hike has been sought with effect from April 1, 2011 onwards.
However, no change in fixed and demand charges has been proposed by any of them.
The revision has been sought to bridge the gap between the total power purchase cost and the aggregate amount available for power purchase at the existing tariff rates for 2011-12.
The total cost of power purchase for the four utilities is estimated at Rs18,075 crore for 2011-12, while the aggregate amount available for power purchase is Rs16,753 crore. The companies have proposed to fill the gap of Rs1,322 crore with the tariff revision.
The objections to the proposals can be submitted with the GERC till June 18.
According to the petitions, DGVCL has proposed hike of Rs276 crore in its revenue requirement, while MGVCL has proposed Rs190 crore. Similarly, PGVCL and UGVCL have proposed hikes of Rs479 crore and Rs377 crore, respectively to fill the gap.
Lakhs of power consumers across the state, except in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Surat, will have to pay more for power if GERC approves the petitions. Torrent Power supplies power in these three cities.
If the four companies' projections are anything to go by, the gap between their power purchase cost and amount available for power purchase will widen further to Rs3,177 crore in 2012-13, to Rs4,364 crore in 2013-14, to Rs4,595 in 2014-15 and to Rs6,508 crore in 2015-16, which means that burden on power consumers could go further up in the coming years.
DGVCL distributes power in seven districts, viz. Bharuch, Narmada, Surat (except Surat City), Tapi, Dangs, Navsari and Valsad. MGVCL's distribution network is in Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Dahod and Panchmahals.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}