GUWAHATI, Jan 28 � The Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), a successor company of the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) has deferred implementation of its proposal to go for a hike in the power tariff to make up for the additional expenditure it is incurring due to the rise in the prices of natural gas.
The ASEB/APDCL had proposed rise in the power tariff at the rate of Rs 0.68 with effect from February 1 next to make up for the additional expenditure of around Rs 23 crore per month since the hike in the prices of natural gas in June last.
The APDCL decision to defer implementation of the above proposal came in the wake of the Government representatives telling the APDCL board on January 25 that the State Government would extend financial assistance to the tune of around Rs 23 crore per month to help the power company overcome its gas price�related deficits.
The Government representatives told the APDCL board that the Government assistance would come with effect from October, 2010 and would continue till the end of the current financial year, official sources here said.
It is expected that the Government�s assistance would be made available to the APDCL by the end of the current month.
However, sources said, the APDCL board had accepted in principle the tariff plan prepared by the company to overcome the financial crisis resulting from the hike in the prices of natural gas. The ASEB/APDCL had earlier made several communications to the State Government seeking help to overcome this situation.
It needs mention here that the ASEB/APDCL had issued newspaper advertisements informing the power consumers of the situation that had compelled it to go for the hike in power tariff following the rise in the natural gas prices.
State�s Power Minister had told this newspaper on January 17 that the State Government was looking into the matter of extending financial assistance to the ASEB and its successor company for overcoming the financial crisis they are facing in the wake of rise in the natural gas price.
