Power tariff rises upto 8 percent in Delhi, millions affected

Delhi`s power tariff will increase six to eight percent as power distribution companies hiked their surcharge.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Delhi`s power tariff will increase six to eight percent starting Saturday as power distribution companies hiked their surcharge. Condemning the power tariff hike, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been quoted by IANS as saying that the power companies should have waited for the CAG audit reports of the firms. According to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), the BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) increased its tariff eight percent, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) by six percent and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) by seven percent. The DERC said the decision was taken following the assessment of the private distribution company`s (discom) quarterly revenue of surcharge. "On the basis of scrutiny of documents of the discoms and also considering the fact that power from some of the stations has been regulated in case of BYPL and no generation from the Bawana plant... the commission has approved the surcharge," the DERC said. BYPL distributes power to the central and eastern parts of Delhi. BYPL, BRPL and TPDDL distribute electricity to nearly five million homes in the state. BYPL had earlier in the day written to the Delhi government, saying it was unable to make payments to power generation companies -- NTPC and NHPC -- owing to its "precarious cash flow situation". (With IANS inputs)