Power tariff orders by electricity regulator delayed until next month: report

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has reserved passing of tariff orders until next month at the behest of the Election Commission, according to a person privy to the information.

 

"CERC has reserved its tariff orders, as per the directions of the Election Commission, as the model code of conduct is in place," the person said, adding that the tariff orders pertain to both private and public sector companies.

 

Power tariff-related orders, announced periodically by electricity regulator CERC, will be made only after the model code of conduct ends.

 

Utilities seek the regulator's approval to revise the price at which power is sold when input costs change and fresh contracts are drawn up.

 

The last tariff order was passed by the CERC on February 26. It pertained to the revision of tariff of NTPC's Ramagundam Super Thermal Power Station, Stage-I & II (2,100 MW) for the period from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014. 

 

The CERC, however, continues to hear petitions related to revision in tariffs filed by various generation companies.

 

The model code of conduct came into force on March 5, when the Election Commission announced the schedule of the Lok Sabha polls. Voting started on April 7 and concludes on May 12, with counting scheduled on May 16.

 

The CERC on February 22 allowed Tata Power and Adani Power higher tariff and total compensation worth over Rs 1,100 crore for their respective Mundra power projects.

 

The relief was aimed at mitigating losses due to the rise in prices of Indonesian coal used to fire the plants in Gujarat.