GUWAHATI, April 24 � The power utilities of the State � Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), Assam Electricity Grid Corporation Ltd (AEGCL) and the Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL) � have submitted their annual tariff petitions for the financial year 2015-16 before the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC).
The APDCL has pleaded for awarding an average cost of supply (that is � fixed and energy charges together) of Rs 7.10 per unit against the existing Rs 7.02 per unit. This, however, excludes true up for the financial year of 2013-14 in respect of the above utilities.
It is likely that following these petitions, there may be an increase in the power tariff for the consumers during the current financial year by 30 paisa to 40 paisa per unit as an average cost of supply.
The regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has alleged that the Congress-led Government in the State has sought to hike the power tariff by Rs 1.65 per unit and it voiced its vehement opposition to this step of the State Government. It said that the State Government had got the power tariff hiked by 13.1 per cent in December 1 last year.
The Assam Yuba Parishad has also opposed the move of the power utilities to get the power tariff hiked again. It has alleged a conspiracy to embezzle the entire amount of Rs 300 crore Asian Development Bank loan amount meant for improving the power generation scenario of the State by the Managing Director of the APGCL. �The APGCL MD is trying to embezzle this amount of money in league with a Finish company named Wairtsila�, alleged the Parishad.
