New Delhi (Agency): In response to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission’s notice permitting power companies to augment Power Purchase Adjustment Charges (PPAC), Delhi’s Power Minister, Atishi Marlena, vowed that the capital’s residents would remain unaffected in their access to free electricity. The Minister affirmed, “I assure Delhi people that it will not affect those who get free electricity. They will continue to enjoy free electricity up to 200 units.”
The PPAC is a supplementary charge factored into consumers’ electricity bills, and its adjustment is sensitive to the fluctuating costs of coal and gas. Consequently, the recent decision implies an increase of 1.2 per cent for Tata power consumers, 5.3 per cent for BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) customers, and a significant 9.42 per cent hike for BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) clients.
Marlena voiced criticism of the central government, attributing the surge in electricity prices to its policies. The Delhi power companies purchase electricity from the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and gas plants, where the price of power has seen an increase of 15-50 per cent. “I want to ask the central government why there is a scarcity of coal production. This has not happened over the 75 years after independence. No production is taking place from the centre’s side,” the Power Minister questioned.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, she highlighted that 80 per cent of the companies’ total expenses go into purchasing electricity. She warned that if this situation persists, not just the national capital, but the entire country could feel the impact.
In a related matter, Marlena pinpointed that solar energy was under-utilized due to the Union Power Minister’s delay in file processing. Though recently approved, solar energy accounts for only a marginal fraction of the electricity generation.
Marlena also responded to BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s critique of the escalating electricity prices. In retort, she clarified, “Manoj Tiwari do read something about it. The DERC notice says that the increase in PPAC has been caused due to the centre’s order to the plants to use a minimum of 10 per cent of coal.” Previously, Tiwari had accused Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal of duping the public with promises of free electricity.