AAP demands review of DERC Act to make power panel accountable
19 Aug 2014 5:18 AM IST
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday demanded that the central law governing the functioning of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) should be amended to make it accountable to the people. The party has stated that the DERC has failed to fix accountability for power cuts in Delhi.
‘The DERC’s kid-gloves approach in dealing with the private power distribution companies (discoms), gives rise to reasonable apprehension that the regulator has failed to act impartially against them.
The party is of the firm view that the time has come for reviewing the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, under which the DERC was set-up,’ said AAP in a press statement.
It also stated that the power regulator should remain fully autonomous. ‘There is no doubt that the power regulator should remain fully autonomous, but its decisions should be open to public scrutiny.
The best way of doing it is that the law be amended to make the DERC accountable to elected representatives – the MPs and MLAs,’ the statement added.
It further added, ‘DERC’s decisions in dealing with discoms and fixing of electricity tariffs should also include the views of elected representatives. It should be made mandatory for the DERC to make public the reasons for accepting or rejecting these views.’ The summers this year had witnessed worst power cuts in recent years, and the DERC and Delhi administration watched like helpless spectators as the situation worsened with each passing day.
Instead of fixing the responsibility immediately, the DERC raise the power tariff in July and sought cushion by withdrawing surcharge.
‘Such a situation cannot be allowed to continue any further and the central government must take immediate steps to ensure that the law is amended to make the DERC functioning transparent and accountable.
‘The DERC’s kid-gloves approach in dealing with the private power distribution companies (discoms), gives rise to reasonable apprehension that the regulator has failed to act impartially against them.
The party is of the firm view that the time has come for reviewing the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, under which the DERC was set-up,’ said AAP in a press statement.
It also stated that the power regulator should remain fully autonomous. ‘There is no doubt that the power regulator should remain fully autonomous, but its decisions should be open to public scrutiny.
The best way of doing it is that the law be amended to make the DERC accountable to elected representatives – the MPs and MLAs,’ the statement added.
It further added, ‘DERC’s decisions in dealing with discoms and fixing of electricity tariffs should also include the views of elected representatives. It should be made mandatory for the DERC to make public the reasons for accepting or rejecting these views.’ The summers this year had witnessed worst power cuts in recent years, and the DERC and Delhi administration watched like helpless spectators as the situation worsened with each passing day.
Instead of fixing the responsibility immediately, the DERC raise the power tariff in July and sought cushion by withdrawing surcharge.
‘Such a situation cannot be allowed to continue any further and the central government must take immediate steps to ensure that the law is amended to make the DERC functioning transparent and accountable.
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