)
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is unlikely to rollback hiked power rates, notwithstanding the pleas of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government.
Water charges will also go up in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 500 due to the environment cess to be imposed on sewer charges on the orders of the National Green Tribunal.
On not delivering its poll promises of cheaper amenities, Cabinet minister and Delhi Jal Board Chairman Kapil Mishra told Business Standard : "People of Delhi are mature enough to understand this. We will have to collect this environment cess from every user who has a sewer connection."
Sources in the power department said the possibility of a rollback is remote, as power rates should have hiked in November last year. According to them, discoms have been incurring losses. DERC had announced a rate hike of four per cent in NDMC areas, four per cent in areas supplied by Tata Power and six per cent in BYPL and BRPL areas.
Although Delhi Power Minister Satyendra Jain had urged DERC to allow imposing daily penalty on discoms for indeterminate power cuts on the grounds that no decision be taken till the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report is submitted, regulatory authority officials said there was no such plan.
The AAP government had ordered a CAG probe in the functioning of the discoms.
