 "AAP targets discoms again, demands audits")
Alleging monopoly of a few power distribution companies in Delhi, AAP said competition would be encouraged among electricity suppliers so that consumers benefit. The party released 'White Paper on Electricity', giving its views on how to improve the power situation in the national capital.
Responding to the White Paper, the power companies said though they purchased power at highest prices, Delhi has the lowest rate among states. The White Paper showed the dues of the power companies in Delhi. "The people of Delhi owe Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Anil Ambani-promoted BRPL and BYPL Rs 11,432 crore with the carrying cost of eight per cent interest per annum. Another approximately Rs 1,500 crore is in the process of being approved by Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC)."
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"Discoms earn an assured return of 16 per cent (return on equity), they don't care about the cost of power purchased they will be made accountable in their functioning," it said.
"The discoms complain that they are sitting on debts worth Rs 13,000-14,000 crore for the past many years. There is a need for a CAG audit so that there is clarity on whether there is a profit or loss that they suffer," said Ashish Khetan, AAP's spokesperson.
"Eighty-five per cent of the total discom expense is power purchase cost, which is beyond the control of a discom. Then, Delhi's bulk power rate is 60 per cent higher than the nation's average. Then, the energy charge imposed is Rs 2.80 per unit (till 200 units of consumption) in the national capital.
It is again the lowest in the country," said a senior executive of one of the Delhi discoms.
The party has also targeted state-run power generators and Coal India. "The public sector units (PSU) involved in fuel supply, power generation, and power transmission has also made windfall gains. The monopoly of Coal India has made it one of the most inefficient but ironically one of the most profitable and cash rich PSUs," said AAP in a statement.
The paper also said that Transco, the Delhi government owned transmission company, is in a poor shape as the discoms have been irregular in paying Transco the wheeling charges.
"As a result, Trasnco has failed to upgrade and enhance the transmission capacity leading to frequent power outages during peak demands in the summers," said the paper.