The Times of India 11.03.2013
Power bills in Punjab to rise with temperature
CHANDIGARH: With
peak summer season around the corner, cash-strapped Punjab State Power
Corporation Limited, is set to supply electricity to customers at higher
rates as it is being arm-twisted by its neighbours to pay up charges or
suffer power losses. While Himachal Pradesh government has decided to
seek power charges, the Jammu and Kashmir government has demanded water
charges on power generated by its hydroelectric projects.
In real terms it would mean that the consumer will have to share the
burden of money the cash-starved state government owes to its neighbors.
A tariff hike of about 13.5% has been projected as Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has approached Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission with an annual revenue requirement of Rs 2,600 crore.
Punjab owes Rs 233 crore to Jammu and Kashmir for water charges, an
increase which will push the hike to 14.5% The burden would be passed on
to the consumers as in a letter PSPCL had asked PSERC to include the quantum jump of unplanned expenditure into the tariff potential.
“We cannot afford paying and still less afford not paying as it would
mean that the neighbouring state will stop the 400 MW of power we get
from hydroelectric projects located there,” said a senior official of
PSPCL. ” We will pay up and take a call on the matter later,” said PSPCL
chairman K D Chaudhary. J&K government has imposed water usage
charges on power generated by its four hydroelectric power projects
located at Salal, Uri, Dulhasti and Sewa II.
In another jolt to
the state power corporation, Himachal government has sought that Punjab
pays 12% power share from Bhakra and Beas inter-state hydro projects,
instead of the 7.19% allowed by the Supreme Court. As of now, PSPCL is
scrambling to make provisions of over Rs 200 crore for Jammu and Kashmir
government.
