OERC to hear power tariff revision Feb 5

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Bhubaneswar: Electricity consumers in the state may have to pay additionally if the electricity tariff, which was raised last April 1, goes up once again.
The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) may issue an order in favour of the power transmission and distribution companies which have sought its intervention to revise the existing power tariff.
The power companies like GRIDCO, Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), Orissa Power Grid Corporation (OPGC) and all distribution companies (Discoms) have filed petitions before the OERC for upward revision of power tariff with effect from 2018-19 to meet their Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR).
Considering the petitions, the OERC has directed the power generation and distribution companies to appear before it for a public hearing on their demand to hike power tariff. The hearing will commence February 5 and continue till February 13.
Two power generating companies – OHPC and OPGC – have been sent notices to appear with their respective applications February 5 for the scheduled hearing.
“Various power generating and distributing companies have filed petitions demanding power tariff hike. The Commission will hear and issue necessary orders this March,” said OERC director (regulatory affairs) Priyabrata Patnaik.
“Both the applicants (power companies) and the organisations/persons whose objections and suggestions were admitted by the Commission for hearing have been directed to be present in person or through their authorised representatives before the Commission on the date, time and place.”
Notably, the average rate of electricity per unit in the state is `4.88. According to sources, 70 per cent of state’s power supply needs is catered by hydro power generation which is inadequate. Consequently, GRIDCO is forced to buy electricity from other sources at an exorbitant rate. However, Orissa Electricity Consumers’ Association (OECA) has vehemently protested the move. “We will strongly protest any hike in power tariff. If the OERC raises tariff, we will move the High Court,” said OECA president Ramesh Satpathy. The Association would oppose the move even during the hearing, he added.