GUWAHATI, April 28 � Terming the proposed hike in power tariff by the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) as totally unjustified, the North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) today urged the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) to turn down the proposal, saying that the move was untenable on several grounds.
�Power sector reforms have been undertaken by the Government of India and the
Government of Assam to provide quality power to consumers at an affordable price and not just to make changes in the tariff order within the financial year, and therefore, quality supply is must,� the NESSIA said, adding that in the last revision the ASEB had assured of steps for streamlining and improving the services to the consumers �but contrary to this domestic consumers and SSI units have been the worst sufferers,� it said.
According to the NESSIA, the distribution loss of power appeared to be a whopping 40 per cent to 60 per cent, and called for reducing it to at least 20 per cent for balancing revenue losses.
�The actual power situation is going from worse to worst. There is a huge shortfall of required power both during peak and off-peak hours. Unless and until the State does not have sufficient power generation of its own, the dependence of the APDCL on power purchase will increase which in turn will increase tariff-related inconveniences to consumers,� the NESSIA said, adding that the emphasis has to be on generating own power rather than hiking power tariff.
Citing prolonged and unscheduled load-shedding besides poor quality of the power available as persisting irritants, the NESSIA said that the delay in completing Sisugram power expansion project, and unavailability of new power connection in the 33 KVA line from Sisugram station to Baihata Chariali was causing inconvenience to the industrial units in that area.
Reasoning that the proposed hike for 2008-09 and �10 was effective from August 1, 2009 and hence another hike or power purchase price adjustment was unacceptable, the NESSIA said that the distribution company should take the responsibility of supplying uninterrupted power to consumers at least for 80 per cent of the time every month irrespective of locations and then enhance the tariff.�
Urging the APDCL and the AERC to halt the move of hiking power tariff unless the APDCL could provide uninterrupted power to all consumers of all locations for a minimum of 80 per cent time of every month, the NESSIA said that compensation in terms of money to the consumers for interruption of power supply for more than a hour should be made mandatory.
�We urge the AERC to turn down the APDCL�s proposal of hiking power tariff in the greater interest of the consumers, and allow it to prove its creditability with uninterrupted and quality power supply to the consumers,� the NESSIA said.
Pointing out that the proposal for hiking power tariff was published only in a few newspapers leaving aside several widely circulated dailies, the NESSIA said that the proposal was not mentioned along with the notice, thereby enhancing chances of overlooking by consumers.
GUWAHATI, April 28 � Terming the proposed hike in power tariff by the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) as totally unjustified, the North Eastern Small Scale Industries Association (NESSIA) today urged the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) to turn down the proposal, saying that the move was untenable on several grounds.
�Power sector reforms have been undertaken by the Government of India and the
Government of Assam to provide quality power to consumers at an affordable price and not just to make changes in the tariff order within the financial year, and therefore, quality supply is must,� the NESSIA said, adding that in the last revision the ASEB had assured of steps for streamlining and improving the services to the consumers �but contrary to this domestic consumers and SSI units have been the worst sufferers,� it said.
According to the NESSIA, the distribution loss of power appeared to be a whopping 40 per cent to 60 per cent, and called for reducing it to at least 20 per cent for balancing revenue losses.
�The actual power situation is going from worse to worst. There is a huge shortfall of required power both during peak and off-peak hours. Unless and until the State does not have sufficient power generation of its own, the dependence of the APDCL on power purchase will increase which in turn will increase tariff-related inconveniences to consumers,� the NESSIA said, adding that the emphasis has to be on generating own power rather than hiking power tariff.
Citing prolonged and unscheduled load-shedding besides poor quality of the power available as persisting irritants, the NESSIA said that the delay in completing Sisugram power expansion project, and unavailability of new power connection in the 33 KVA line from Sisugram station to Baihata Chariali was causing inconvenience to the industrial units in that area.
Reasoning that the proposed hike for 2008-09 and �10 was effective from August 1, 2009 and hence another hike or power purchase price adjustment was unacceptable, the NESSIA said that the distribution company should take the responsibility of supplying uninterrupted power to consumers at least for 80 per cent of the time every month irrespective of locations and then enhance the tariff.�
Urging the APDCL and the AERC to halt the move of hiking power tariff unless the APDCL could provide uninterrupted power to all consumers of all locations for a minimum of 80 per cent time of every month, the NESSIA said that compensation in terms of money to the consumers for interruption of power supply for more than a hour should be made mandatory.
�We urge the AERC to turn down the APDCL�s proposal of hiking power tariff in the greater interest of the consumers, and allow it to prove its creditability with uninterrupted and quality power supply to the consumers,� the NESSIA said.
Pointing out that the proposal for hiking power tariff was published only in a few newspapers leaving aside several widely circulated dailies, the NESSIA said that the proposal was not mentioned along with the notice, thereby enhancing chances of overlooking by consumers.
