Govt shelves rural tariff hike decision
30 July 2012 9:09 AM GMT
UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has decided to withdraw its proposal to hike tariff of unmetered rural domestic consumers following strong objection raised by a consumer body, .
Responding to a notice by UP state electricity regulatory commission which had sought clarification over government decision to propose a hike from back door, the power corporation management informed it was withdrawing its proposal and would not further stress for hike in tariff for rural domestic consumers.
Government had earlier proposed to charge Rs 125 per kilowatt from rural consumers against existing Rs 125 per month for each connection. The proposal was sent to UPSERC for notification. It said that as power was being purchased at higher rate from central pool it was not possible for the government to supply its cheap any more. It further argues that as normal farmers have 1 kw connection the new rates would not have any effect on them. The notice was issued to UPPCL after a consumer body, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad had filed objection with UPSERC saying power corporation's decision to propose hike on rural consumer was against rules.
In its reply power corporation said, it was withdrawing the proposal and the tariff for rural domestic consumers would remain as earlier. Terming this withdrawal of proposal as victory of organisation, UPRVUP president Awadhesh Kumar Verma thanked electricity regulatory commission and said, if this proposal was approved it would have burdened rural consumers every year by Rs 420 crore.
Meanwhile UPPCL has launched a drive aimed at preparing a data base of rural consumers across the state. In first phase Barabanki district will be taken as pilot project.
Responding to a notice by UP state electricity regulatory commission which had sought clarification over government decision to propose a hike from back door, the power corporation management informed it was withdrawing its proposal and would not further stress for hike in tariff for rural domestic consumers.
Government had earlier proposed to charge Rs 125 per kilowatt from rural consumers against existing Rs 125 per month for each connection. The proposal was sent to UPSERC for notification. It said that as power was being purchased at higher rate from central pool it was not possible for the government to supply its cheap any more. It further argues that as normal farmers have 1 kw connection the new rates would not have any effect on them. The notice was issued to UPPCL after a consumer body, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad had filed objection with UPSERC saying power corporation's decision to propose hike on rural consumer was against rules.
In its reply power corporation said, it was withdrawing the proposal and the tariff for rural domestic consumers would remain as earlier. Terming this withdrawal of proposal as victory of organisation, UPRVUP president Awadhesh Kumar Verma thanked electricity regulatory commission and said, if this proposal was approved it would have burdened rural consumers every year by Rs 420 crore.
Meanwhile UPPCL has launched a drive aimed at preparing a data base of rural consumers across the state. In first phase Barabanki district will be taken as pilot project.
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